Doação protegida
Kennedy’s Grace - Our beautiful girls life journey with cardiomyopathy
Definitions:
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a disease in which the heart muscle (myocardium) becomes abnormally thick (hypertrophied). The thickened heart muscle can make it harder for the heart to pump blood.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy often goes undiagnosed because many people with the disease have few, if any, symptoms and can lead normal lives with no significant problems. However, in a small number of people with HCM, the thickened heart muscle can cause shortness of breath, chest pain or problems in the heart's electrical system, resulting in life-threatening abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias). (Reference: Mayo Clinic)
Ventricular tachycardia is a heart rhythm disorder (arrhythmia) caused by abnormal electrical signals in the lower chambers of the heart (ventricles).
Your heart rate is regulated by electrical signals sent across heart tissues. A healthy heart normally beats about 60 to 100 times a minute when at rest and is defined by signals that originate in the upper chambers of the heart (atria).
In ventricular tachycardia (V-tach or VT), abnormal electrical signals in the ventricles cause the heart to beat faster than normal, usually 100 or more beats a minute, out of sync with the upper chambers.
When that happens, your heart may not be able to pump enough blood to your body and lungs because the chambers are beating so fast or out of sync with each other that they don't have time to fill properly.
Ventricular tachycardia may be brief, lasting for only a few seconds, and perhaps not cause any symptoms. Or it can last for much longer and cause symptoms such as dizziness, lightheadedness, palpitations or even loss of consciousness.
In some cases, ventricular tachycardia can cause your heart to stop (sudden cardiac arrest), which is a life-threatening medical emergency.(Reference: Mayo Clinic)
Kennedys Story:
On October 8, 2018, we learned through a sheer miracle that Kennedy has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (an enlarged heart). EKG and echocardiogram reviled that her heart was not relaxing completely after pumping which causes problems. After the doctor discovered that Kennedy had actually lost consciousness back in August of 2018 for only a few seconds, the doctor immediately ordered that she wear a medical device(holder monitor) for 48 hours. The doctor also asked that we restrict her physical activity such as recess and PE for the time being but wanted to see what happens when she gets a light rise in her heartbeat. Miraculously after being instructed to lightly jog home after getting off of the bus she fell dizzy and lost consciousness. Fortunately her step father was there to witness the incident and was able to react quickly calling for help however before paramedics could arrive after about a minute or so Kennedy regained consciousness and the fear for everyone came to the forefront.
We were admitted to Children’s Methodist Hospital in San Antonio Texas, and there for 3 consecutive days before cautiously being released and referred to Texas Children Hospital in Houston Texas. We learned along the way that Kennedy had an arrhythmia recorded by the device when she fainted which the Electro Physiologist determined was a polymorphic VT arrhythmia. Our minds spiraled in to dark places. Often times we found ourselves angry, confused, sad, and scared, among the many ups and downs as news broke from the testing the doctors performed.
After sifting through countless websites and material online we decided as a family to focus on the positive energy Kennedy needs from a support standpoint as we are going to have to manage this condition for the rest of her and our lives. While we don’t know what the future hold in terms of need for a potential transplant, we have been informed that Kennedy is in great hands at Texas Children's but she will need a defibrillator as a life saving device in the event that she has another arrhythmia.
The defibrillator is designed to shock her heart back in to its normal rhythm in the event that she has another arrhythmia.
While we are very fortunate that we were able to catch this so that we can manage it, it has been hard on Kennedy as she just wants to get back to riding her bike and chasing after her brothers. She wants to go back to school and play with her friends. She, of course, doesn’t want the protruding device implanted in her for cosmetic reasons, but she knows its meant to save her life.
She’s one sharp beautiful little girl and will always be one!
Many of you also know that Kennedy is one of our four children. Kennedy has an older sister Saryah, a senior in high school who is also planning on attending college, and she also has two little brothers, Stefen and Sebastian both currently attending daycare. Amanda and I also recently started new jobs, so we do not qualify for Family Medical Leave of Absence(FMLA) since we have not been at our new jobs for a year. As such, we realize that we have to humble ourselves and ask for help from those that love Kennedy and our family. If you are unable to help us financially or are going through your own financial strains please do not feel obligated to help. Those that can not contribute monetarily can help us by planning a visit to see Kennedy or sending her an uplifting letter so that we can continue to encourage her spirits and make sure she knows that we love her all the same.
Definitions:
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a disease in which the heart muscle (myocardium) becomes abnormally thick (hypertrophied). The thickened heart muscle can make it harder for the heart to pump blood.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy often goes undiagnosed because many people with the disease have few, if any, symptoms and can lead normal lives with no significant problems. However, in a small number of people with HCM, the thickened heart muscle can cause shortness of breath, chest pain or problems in the heart's electrical system, resulting in life-threatening abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias). (Reference: Mayo Clinic)
Ventricular tachycardia is a heart rhythm disorder (arrhythmia) caused by abnormal electrical signals in the lower chambers of the heart (ventricles).
Your heart rate is regulated by electrical signals sent across heart tissues. A healthy heart normally beats about 60 to 100 times a minute when at rest and is defined by signals that originate in the upper chambers of the heart (atria).
In ventricular tachycardia (V-tach or VT), abnormal electrical signals in the ventricles cause the heart to beat faster than normal, usually 100 or more beats a minute, out of sync with the upper chambers.
When that happens, your heart may not be able to pump enough blood to your body and lungs because the chambers are beating so fast or out of sync with each other that they don't have time to fill properly.
Ventricular tachycardia may be brief, lasting for only a few seconds, and perhaps not cause any symptoms. Or it can last for much longer and cause symptoms such as dizziness, lightheadedness, palpitations or even loss of consciousness.
In some cases, ventricular tachycardia can cause your heart to stop (sudden cardiac arrest), which is a life-threatening medical emergency.(Reference: Mayo Clinic)
Kennedys Story:
On October 8, 2018, we learned through a sheer miracle that Kennedy has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (an enlarged heart). EKG and echocardiogram reviled that her heart was not relaxing completely after pumping which causes problems. After the doctor discovered that Kennedy had actually lost consciousness back in August of 2018 for only a few seconds, the doctor immediately ordered that she wear a medical device(holder monitor) for 48 hours. The doctor also asked that we restrict her physical activity such as recess and PE for the time being but wanted to see what happens when she gets a light rise in her heartbeat. Miraculously after being instructed to lightly jog home after getting off of the bus she fell dizzy and lost consciousness. Fortunately her step father was there to witness the incident and was able to react quickly calling for help however before paramedics could arrive after about a minute or so Kennedy regained consciousness and the fear for everyone came to the forefront.
We were admitted to Children’s Methodist Hospital in San Antonio Texas, and there for 3 consecutive days before cautiously being released and referred to Texas Children Hospital in Houston Texas. We learned along the way that Kennedy had an arrhythmia recorded by the device when she fainted which the Electro Physiologist determined was a polymorphic VT arrhythmia. Our minds spiraled in to dark places. Often times we found ourselves angry, confused, sad, and scared, among the many ups and downs as news broke from the testing the doctors performed.
After sifting through countless websites and material online we decided as a family to focus on the positive energy Kennedy needs from a support standpoint as we are going to have to manage this condition for the rest of her and our lives. While we don’t know what the future hold in terms of need for a potential transplant, we have been informed that Kennedy is in great hands at Texas Children's but she will need a defibrillator as a life saving device in the event that she has another arrhythmia.
The defibrillator is designed to shock her heart back in to its normal rhythm in the event that she has another arrhythmia.
While we are very fortunate that we were able to catch this so that we can manage it, it has been hard on Kennedy as she just wants to get back to riding her bike and chasing after her brothers. She wants to go back to school and play with her friends. She, of course, doesn’t want the protruding device implanted in her for cosmetic reasons, but she knows its meant to save her life.
She’s one sharp beautiful little girl and will always be one!
Many of you also know that Kennedy is one of our four children. Kennedy has an older sister Saryah, a senior in high school who is also planning on attending college, and she also has two little brothers, Stefen and Sebastian both currently attending daycare. Amanda and I also recently started new jobs, so we do not qualify for Family Medical Leave of Absence(FMLA) since we have not been at our new jobs for a year. As such, we realize that we have to humble ourselves and ask for help from those that love Kennedy and our family. If you are unable to help us financially or are going through your own financial strains please do not feel obligated to help. Those that can not contribute monetarily can help us by planning a visit to see Kennedy or sending her an uplifting letter so that we can continue to encourage her spirits and make sure she knows that we love her all the same.
Organizador
Sam N Amanda McWright
Organizador
Schertz, TX