P2 Parliamentary Reception 2010 P3 My Kilimanjaro
Newsletter 03 Winter 2010
P4 About myheart
News and information for young people living with cardiac conditions
James Bailey went to a CRY screening that was held at his school. When he was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome it came as a complete shock. James, who was 17 when he was screened, remembers, “I first heard about CRY when they came to my school to do screening. I signed up, not expecting anything to be wrong but then unfortunately I was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White. I was very shocked. I’d signed up not expecting anything to be wrong – I played football basically every day.”
James with Pixie Lott at the Parliamentary Reception WPW syndrome is caused by an extra electrical connection between the chambers of the heart which causes a rapid heart rate. James’ condition was detected during an ECG (electrocardiogram) test which measures the electrical activity of the heart. He was sent for further tests at hospital to confirm the initial diagnosis. This included an echocardiogram (ECHO) which looks at the flow of blood in and out of the heart and is similar to the ultrasound scan that a pregnant woman has to check the health of her baby. James continues “But afterwards I saw consultants and realised at least its something which can be treated. I was put on medication for 2 months to stabilise my irregular heart rhythm and I’ve had the cardiac ablation operation and now everything’s fine and now I hope to help CRY to help others.” The surgery James underwent is called radio frequency ablation. This procedure destroys the extra electrical pathway in the heart. Since his surgery James has been keen to raise awareness and funds for CRY. He has had an article published in the Daily Express about his experience and has spoken on behalf of CRY at the launch of the CRY Centre for Inherited Cardiovascular Conditions and Sports Cardiology in April 2010 and the Parliamentary Reception in October 2010, “I think it’s so important that CRY helps raise awareness of such problems and save people like me.” For more information on WPW visit www.c-r-y.org.uk/wpw.htm
James’ experience featured in an article in the Daily Express 25/05/2010
Article reproduced with permission
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