Heartache of a child's death

Gower MP Martin Caton yesterday spoke in the House of Commons about the heartache endured by families who lose a child to a hidden heart defect. 

The MP was speaking in support of a private member’s Bill presented by Stockton South MP Dari Taylor, which calls for automatic screening for people with a high risk of Sudden Cardiac Death Syndrome. 

Mr Caton used the second reading of the Bill as an opportunity to explain why he was giving it his whole-hearted support.

He said “It is only really at the personal, the human and the family level that we can begin to perceive the real consequences of Sudden Death Syndrome. 

“To lose a child, even if he or she has grown to adulthood, is every parent’s worst fear. 

It turns the natural sequence of life on its head.  It’s the disaster that you dread and it must be the most difficult loss to come to terms with, whatever the circumstances”, he said. 

“But Sudden Death Syndrome even adds a further cruel dimension to this.  It comes completely out of the blue and targets the apparently fit and healthy – and especially the sports enthusiast whose families are sure their athleticism is the best way of protecting their health. 

“But, in fact, because of the undetected underlying cardiac abnormality, the stress their sport puts on their heart can be the trigger that leads to their deaths.”

Mr Caton said such a death happened often, with out a hing of a warning or any chance for final contact with the young victim. 

“As one mum who lost her 19-year old son put it, ‘The worst part is that there are no goodbyes nor I love yous.  The person is just taken away from you’.” 

Mr Caton paid tribute to his constituent, Clydach mum Paulette Smith whose son Christian died suddenly from the syndrome in 1999. 

A representative with campaigning ground Cardiac Risk in the Young, or CRY, Paulette is also a fundraiser for medical equipment, and educator about the condition, and a campaigner for improvement. 

Mr Caton said there was strong evidence that screening would be beneficial.  He called for the Bill to be voted through and hoped that in future even more screening measures could be introduced. 

In Italy, for example, all young athletes are screened. 

“This Bill does not go that far, but it is an important step forward, “ said Mr Caton.