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Parents of an East Herts teenager who died
from the equivalent of cot death want at-risk youngsters to have their
hearts tested.
Gill and Robert Wood were devastated when
their son James died from SADS (Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndrome) –
similar to cot death in infants – in September 2002.
Gill, of Great Amwell, near Ware, said:
“Before James died, nobody could really tell us what was wrong with him.
“At one point, doctors thought he had
vertigo because he kept having dizzy spells.
“I’m not pointing the finger of blame
at anyone – it was nobody’s fault.
But at the time there was a lack of knowledge about SADS on all
sides.
“If James had seen a cardiologist, his
problems may have been spotted.”
It is the vital work of the charity – CRY
(Cardiac Risk in Young People) which Gill and Robert are hoping to
promote.
“The charity promotes the use of cardio
screenings for youngsters who could be at risk of SADS and we fully back
this.
“We want more youngsters – particularly
those who take part in sports – to be screened,” said Gill.
James, who was a fit and active boy, had
just turned 15 when he collapsed and died at the family’s home in
Yearing Close, Great Amwell.
The popular and friendly youngster was a
pupil at Haileybury public school, near Hoddesdon and was a member of the
1st Broxbourne Scouts.
This week, James’s mother Gill spoke out
about the family’s loss and how a charity had greatly helped them to
deal with their grief.
“James died suddenly at home and it took
many months of further investigation to try to determine the cause of
death,” said Gill.
“He was a very fit, healthy boy with his
whole life ahead of him.
“The coroner came to the conclusion that
James died of SADS, which is similar to cot death.”
Last Tuesday, Gill and Robert organised for
a CRY representative to visit youngsters at Broxbourne JMI School, in Mill
Lane, where James’s younger brother Thomas, 9, is a pupil.
The school held a special assembly, at
which the children met cuddly mascot toys QT Kanga and CRY Teddy – which
will be travelling the globe to raise money for CRY – as they were told
about SADS.
Later in the day, James’s brother,
Christopher, 14, took the toys into Haileybury for another talk on the
charity’s work.
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