Autopsy says 12 year old had heart defect

[scrappinmom]

How awful for this family. I can't imagine something like that happening. I took my girls to WDW without dh last year & cringe at the thought of something happening to them or me. I was just recently diagnosed with an enlarged heart, long story, mammogram from he-double hockey sticks. ANyway I've yet to meet with the cardiologist to discuss the limitations if any on my activity. I'm hoping she says there are none. I'm taking my girls back to WDW in October. But now this has me worried, what if something happened to me? without my dh there, what happens to my kids?



Telly - I've seen your posts about WDW before, You must be one awesome mom! The strength you've shown your kids is amazing. I'm so sorry about your husband. He must have been so young, wayy to young to die.

 

[loveswdw]

yea.. bad things like this can happen anywhere. my husband could have died on the Dumbo ride.. instead he died in the room.

Fantasia-- just wanted to say I remember when this happened a few years ago. I read the post on the boards here and it just made me cry. I can't imagine going through something like that ever.

 

[MEK]

People (including children) die all the time of undiagnosed cardiac disease. I am a nurse practitioner with cardiac surgical patients. I am often the first one to tell patients they need bypass surgery and/or valve replacement. Many people are completely shocked, because they have few or no symptoms. Since most of these people are over 40 and have other comorbidities, they have given up riding thrill rides. If they hadn't, there would be a lot more deaths in any theme park.

Just recently a patient of mine had a mitral valve repair or replacement (I can't remember which). How did he find out there was a problem???? Ironically, he was getting ready to take his grandchildren to Disney. He couldn't "kick" his cold, so he went to his family doctor (he was not a regular customer there). His doctor detected a murmur and sent him for an echocardiogram which showed severe mitral regurgitation (this means a very, very leaky valve). He went on his Disney trip, but he had his valve repaired or replaced surgically several weeks later.

Sudden cardiac death in children and teenagers is such a concern, it is the reason there are stringent requirements for athletic physicals. In the state of Delaware there are about 50 questions the athlete must answer prior to the physical. Many of these are aimed at detecting risk factors for sudden cardiac death. Sudden cardiac death in children can be due to undetected congenital heart defects (patent foramen ovale, atrial septal defect), abnormalities of the heart muscle wall causing fatal arrhythmia (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy), and electrical disturbances in the conduction system of the heart causing arrhythmia (long QT syndrome). Giving that some of these conditions are hard to screen for, it is actually surprising that more people don't die after the adrenaline rush of a thrill ride.

What makes this so tragic is that all of us on the DIS see Disney as the happiest place on earth. A death at the happiest place on earth seems so wrong in so many ways. We struggle with the "hows" and "whys". We empathize and sympathize because of the enormity of the tragedy. We search for answers by reading all the posts on this board. Unfortunately, we will never have the answers. Each person just has to decide what is right for them and their families when it comes to thrill rides. Most importantly, we must put it in perspective and not be overcome by fear.

______________________________________________

Max is my favorite cat!

 

[daisy_77]

your dad is very lucky tracy. the doctor were able to detect it early enough where they can repair it. we didn't even know that my husband had aneurysm until after his death. he died in the room at the ASMo, but i think what did it is when he rode the Dumbo ride with my son. he is scared of heights and he already has a high blood pressure and i really think that caused it. cause after that ride, we just went straight back to the room and he never came out of the room. and unfortunately we didn't think nothing of it. he said that he just ate something bad at Crystal's Palace.

yea.. bad things like this can happen anywhere. my husband could have died on the Dumbo ride.. instead he died in the room.

sorry... i just keep babbling here..

I am so sorry to hear this


My thoughts and prayers are with the little boys family.

 

[FoodLover]

Why is it that every person that has died at Disney has had a heart defect. I just think Disney is too scared to admit that the G-Forces are too much?!?!

It's tragic that this little boy died, but it doesn't mean the G-forces are "too much." Over 36 MILLION people have gone on Rock 'n Roller Coaster without dying, so obviously the G-forces are perfectly safe for 99.999999% of the population.

Sometimes bad things happen that aren't anyone's fault.

Mary

 

[*Fantasia*]

Thank you scrappinmom, loveswdw, and daisy_77. Thanks for the support and love.

Sincerely,
Telly

 

[Luv2Roam]

My mother is elderly, but for years she complained if her heart not beating right sometimes during the night.
The doctors could find nothing irregular -- until she was feeling an episode and called the ambulance.
They literally had to catch her irregular heartbeat while it was happening. Which was by fluke they finally pinpointed it at the right time.
I found this part interesting in one article:

Researchers at the University Hospital of Mannheim in Germany put 55 healthy people on roller coasters and monitored their heart rates during the two-minute experience. Average heart rates rose from 89 beats per minute before the ride to 155 just afterward.

 

[EEYOREMAMA]

I have been having the hardest time with the news about this -

my DS almost 3 had to be sedated and the doctor detected an irregular heartbeat - it wasn't severe but we scheduled an EKG just to be sure - his heartbeat was fine but turns out he has an enlarged heart - we are waiting for further testing to determine exactly what is going on and how severe it is

all I can think when I hear this is how lucky we are that he needed to be sedated and that the doctors didn't just blow off the heartbeat -

My DS is a perfectly active normal 2 yo - I am in shock that something could be wrong - so I can completely sympathize with this boy's parents!!

This one hit home for me too. Someone stated on another post that all children have yearly examinations. I said that doesn't necessarily mean anything if the doctor is performing a "well child" checkup. They go through a routine of ears, eyes, throat, pulse and listen to their hearts. However, it takes a trained ear to hear a murmer. Not every pediatrician is qualified to hear a defect in a child's heartbeat.

I was very fortunate that such a doctor was present when I gave birth to my oldest. I never saw him before the delivery, he was up for rotation on the hospital staff. He listened to my son's heart immediately after birth. He showed up at my bedside 2 days later and said we may have a problem. At 4 days old, my son was rushed to All Children's Hospital. He spent the next 61/2 months in and out of the hospital. At 7 months, he had open heart surgery. Even with this knowledge, his yearly physicals are routine. He stills needs annual checkups with a specialist at All Children's.

I thank God every day we had this doctor or my son was not going to live very long. There are so many others who have similar problems and are never diagnosed or treated.

Living in Florida, we are privy to the toll the weather can take on our children. We make sure to remind our kids to hydrate and not to race from ride to ride in this weather. Even for perfectly healthy children, this can be a dangerous situation if they tax their bodies.

My thoughts and prayers go to you and your son and these parents as well. I hope we all hug our children tonight and hold them close.

We are off to DW tomorrow for the day and I intend to remind my boys to be careful.

 

[TaylorsDad]

I find this news heartbreaking. And my prayers are with the boys family and all the others who had to experience such tragedy on what should be a wonderful adventure.
. My DD8 was diagnosed shortly after birth with Downs Syndrome and heart problems- Tetrology and Av canal defect. She had repair surgery at 2 and thankfully she hasnt had any problems since. We still live in fear that someday additional surgery will be required.
We just got back from Disney and I can understand how difficult it is to decide what rides to let ones child ride even if your child has no prior medical problems, and what an awful way to discover one. .The problem I had is almost all the rides had warnings on them about heart problems even the mild rides. DD8's physician said let her ride any rides any child her age would but If I had questions I would ride the ride first by myself and then make a judgement call. She loved the small childrens rides such as Dumbo but also enjoyed Soarin ,Dinosaur, and Splash Mountain and had no trouble with these. I feel sad that she will never experience the thrill of 0-60 on RnR or the excitement of ToT and MS. But I am just unwilling to take a chance on it. Again to all those who suffered such a loss my prayers are with you and may God give you strength

 

[GalDisney]

yes this is sad, but what do you bet the family will soon, if not already, have a lawyer and try to blame and sue disney.

 

[KatheeME]

Bill,
I totally agree with you. Also, I have read here and in other venues that doctors and the quality of care has been questioned. My dd was diagnosed at the age of 16 with SVT, a condition she was born with. She has been extremely athletic and active since she was a small child. She always got great health care, this condition didn't "show up" until that day. I am posting this to point out that many, serious health conditions go undetected until they "surface", sadly.

No one would be surprised if a person with an AARP card, myself for instance, keeled over during or after a thrill ride, we expect those with a lot of candles on the B'Day cake to have a less than firm grip on life. What's not often considered is that the 12 and under set harbor a fair percentage of folks who have serious physical flaws that just haven't surfaced yet. The fortunate ones get detected, either by accident or during the investigation of some symptom such as shortness of breath or fainting. The unlucky ones, and their loved ones, receive only one symptom, sudden death. Depending on the nature of the defect, this poor kid might have died the next time he played basketball, ran to catch the school bus or did a flip off the diving board, in which case we'd never know of it. It's the marquee value of WDW that makes this a national story, not the manner of his passing.

Bill From PA

 

[jlovesee]

Im very saddened to hear the news about the death. But to tell you the truth Im more worried about how the general public will take the news. Its sad that he died, but you must keep in mind that the same type of thing could have happened in any situation, running to fast, sports, swimming, anything that raises your heart beat.

The real reason for this post is that I wanted to share something I thought everyone here would find interesting. During the American Coaster Enthusiasts Coaster Con at our annual banquet our guest speaker was Emmett Peter, Director of Global Safety at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. Meaning (I think) he is in charge of keeping the guests safe on the rides, making sure the rides are safe. I could go into a lot of details, as it was a very interesting presentation (he was also part of the group that developed fast pass as well) But the basic point I wanted to make was that the forces (g-forces) felt on rides such as roller coasters, which can spike as high as 4-5 g's (times the regular pull of earth's gravity) is what we many times normally experience in life, yawning, walking, jumping can generate spikes of up to 6 times the force of earth's gravity. Roller Coasters also generate these same, usually quick, spikes in g-forces, usually the longer duration g's you feel are much lower levels. There have been numerous tests to prove the safety of roller coasters, and even disney tests their rides themselves periodically to check that the level of these forces are well within safe parameters.

I think it is completely natural to feel scared of roller coasters, as is that's kind of the point... But I have always believed that its important not to give into fear itself, or then you will not being living life to the fullest.

Jennifer

 

[DumboDash2006]

*Fantasia*, I'm so sorry for your loss. (((HUGS))) to you and your beautiful children.

 

[HopperFan]

In Georgia, after a number of teen athlete deaths (from heart issues, especially enlarged hearts), one family of a high school boy pushed through for the extensive physical exam forms, which also ask many questions aimed at checking for potential heart issues. They also worked hard so there is a group which comes to schools and performs heart scans for $58 (normally $1000-1500 and insurance will not pay). They are read by doctors and you are flagged if they find anything. These tests have picked up a number of kids every time they have a test day. These kids are very lucky to have had these problems found and referrals. No regular physicals would pick up these problems.....we are very lucky to have this program to screen these athletes (and most schools open it to non-athletes as well and middle school students) for a nominal fee. Both my kids have had them done because their medical history has flags and they participate in a an endurance sport.

 

[*Fantasia*]

Thank you DumboDash2006.

i agree jlovesee, it's okay to feel scared of whatever rides you're not comfortable with. but to say (from another thread) disney is becoming scary.. disney is not becoming scary, it's just knowing what and what not to ride, knowing your capability.

GalDisney, God forbid, if that was my child, and it just happened yesterday, i don't think i would be thinking about lawsuit or anything else for that matter (at least not yet). i would be thinking about how i just lost my son and no one can bring him back to life and how am i going to deal with his death.

i don't know how it would be disney's fault though.. but anyways.. i wouldn't know.. i'm no expert.

 

[Lizzybee]

Since this boy's father is in the Army, I'm assuming the boy has been seen by military doctors in the past. Makes me wonder

• what is the care like?
• do children see pediatric doctors or general practioners?
• do kids see pretty much the same set of doctors throughout their lives or are they seeing a different one just about every time?
• is this something that a pediatrician should have/could have detected?

My ex-husband is retired Navy and so my kids go to the Naval Hospital for their pediatrician visits. While on a couple of occassions I haven't been crazy about the Dr, most of the time they have been really good doctors. One thing about having a child seen inside the hospital in what is essentially a socialized health care system, they do WAY more tests. I remember once when my son was about 18 mos old, he had a high fever, I had been giving him motrin, but it was haning on. I took him to the dr. and the dr. ordered a urine sample, chest x-ray, and blood sample. Since he wasn't potty trained, they taped a bag around his ***** saying that he'd probably be so upset he'd pee while getting his x-rays or his blood draw. Everything was so tramatic for him, even the xray involved him sitting on a bike seat with plexiglass shields around his body to hold him in place with his arms up. Still no urine, they did the blood test, still no urine...so they took the bag off even thought it was taped to his testicles. (rip) Then they catheterized him. What did they find after all that? He had a virus and I should give him motrin 4 times a day for the fever.

My point is, just being military health care it doesn't mean it's poor care or not thorough enough.

 

[Chim Chiminy]

No offense to anyone else who is military, but care can be spotty. I think it just depends on where you are stationed and if after a move the next dr takes the time to go thru your records and listen to you.
We have had really good care and really, truly crappy care. just depends but I think it is probably that way even for civilians.

Our best care has always been with civilian dr's out in the community though. which is why, when given the choice I choose civilian over military clinic.

to the original post, the whole thought is scary. My dad has had two heart attacks, the first requiring a quadruple bypass. He goes to Disney with us and I had always felt the rides were mild, so I shouldn't worry. Now I will rethink that. I know something could happen to him at any time though......................

 

[Mickey Fliers]

No offense to anyone else who is military, but care can be spotty. I think it just depends on where you are stationed and if after a move the next dr takes the time to go thru your records and listen to you.
We have had really good care and really, truly crappy care. just depends but I think it is probably that way even for civilians.

Our best care has always been with civilian dr's out in the community though. which is why, when given the choice I choose civilian over military clinic.

to the original post, the whole thought is scary. My dad has had two heart attacks, the first requiring a quadruple bypass. He goes to Disney with us and I had always felt the rides were mild, so I shouldn't worry. Now I will rethink that. I know something could happen to him at any time though......................

Liz - No to be OT, but we are in Brunswick, as well . My DH is Navy and I stated a few posts back that I feel that we have always had excellent care. That being said, we almost always see civilian docs, too. The time we saw a Navy Doc, she was absolutely wonderful, caring and thorough. I think I was trying to say that our medical coverage is pretty great and the fact that this boy's father is active duty military probably has no bearing what so ever on this tragedy. That is what happened, a terrible tragedy.

But anyway, howdy neighbor!

 

[Minniespal]

Very sad.

 

[msgrimm23]

its very sad when there is something wrong with someone that you are unable to find out about till they pass. you take a risk going on rides all the time but it is a vacation and you want to do it all and sad things happen