Having been together since meeting at Aberdeen University, James and I finally got round to getting married in November 2001.
Six months later James went off to play cricket and didn’t come home.
He collapsed during a game and was rushed to nearby Edinburgh Royal Infirmary – when I arrived the medics had been trying to revive him for sometime, but without success. My handsome, witty, intelligent “other half” was gone.
As you can imagine, that sort of thing turns your world upside down in an instant.
Emily, James’ cousin’s wife, had her world turned upside down in much the same way 8 years earlier – her husband Rupert collapsed and died while playing tennis.
Too much of a coincidence, further investigation suggested a genetic link (James and Rupert’s mothers were identical twins….which makes for interesting research). The post-mortem attributed James’ death to Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, but the suspicion now is that it was probably Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC).
At the same time as loosing a son, brother and husband we were dealing with the implications for the remaining family. Three of my brother-in-laws and one of my sister-in-laws now have ICDs fitted, cousins are also being treated and my gorgeous little nieces and nephews are being monitored.
The loss of James and Rupert and the subsequent knowledge that has given the family, means we are hopeful our families won’t experience the agonies of the sudden and untimely loss of a young person again.
By supporting CRY I hope I can reduce the risk for other families too.
If you would like to contact one of our Representatives or a Bereavement Supporter please call the CRY office at 01737 363222 or e-mail [email protected] and we will put you in touch with someone who may be able to help you.
