Every year, since 2009, my three children get their hearts checked thoroughly with an EKG, Stress Test, Holter Monitor, and an Echo Cardiogram. Obviously, we do not want a recurrence of SCA in our family so we are taking every precaution available to us. With a sigh and push back from the kids, we drive an hour away with the combination of tests taking up a good part of their day.
One spring morning in 2012 with the testing in progress, the doctors detected an arrhythmia in Shannon’s Stress Test. We were of course taken by surprise, as she was now a rising senior and soon to be a starter on the girls Robinson basketball team. She had played basketball since 4th grade, and had a great bond with all her Robinson teammates. Senior year was going to be her year!
The doctors suggested that she could have CRVD (chronic rheumatic valve disease) and that we should have an ablation surgery done at Children’s Medical Center. In the meantime, they suggested putting her on a beta-blocker to slow down her heart rate.
Cardiac ablation is a procedure that is used to scar small areas in your heart that may be involved in your heart rhythm problems. This can prevent the abnormal electrical signals or rhythms from moving through the heart. During the procedure, small wires called electrodes are placed inside your heart to measure your heart’s electrical activity. When the source of the problem is found, the tissue causing the problem is destroyed.
Thankfully, the six-hour surgery went well, and CRVD was not detected. She was advised by her doctors not to continue playing basketball, as the source of the problem was still unknown.
In this type of situation it was easy to get frustrated but our family has learned to rise to the occasion. God always seems to work his magic and when one door closes, the other one opens. Shannon became my new running and spinning partner, exercises she never thought she would like. She took this setback and for the duration of the summer, replaced her basketball practices with swim, spin classes, yoga, running and weight training. Now Shannon plans to become a spin instructor and has since run her 3rd annual ½ marathon.
We continue to keep Shannon’s heart monitored as she continues to enjoy life to its fullest. Another subtle blessing from above!