Stories

Madeleine, our apparently healthy two-year-old daughter, suddenly became ill one evening in December 2000. I remember it well because I had just been out to buy a Christmas tree. Whilst I was out Jane, Madeleine’s mother, called the doctor because our daughter was having trouble breathing. Soon we were in the Cottage Hospital at Chipping Norton. Almost immediately she was taken by ambulance to the District Hospital at Banbury. Hours later, she died. We had no idea why.

Her post mortem examination revealed that she had a chronic heart condition called a dilated cardiomyopathy. We had never heard of such a thing and found it hard to know what to think or what to do next, never mind come to terms with our grief.

We discovered CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) when we were trying to find answers via the internet.  Alison Cox, the Chief Executive of the charity, was soon able to meet us and help give us the information we wanted. We were amazed to find that more than eight young people in the UK die unexpectedly each week from cardiac conditions.

CRY helps raise awareness about these conditions, supports bereaved parents and screens young people to rule out heart conditions. CRY was such an excellent source of help and support that we were soon helping to raise funds. Later I trained to become a bereavement supporter. Now I can help other parents who need someone to talk to after a sudden loss.