Autopsy says 12 year old had heart defect

[TinkerbellMama]

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

Gotta agree with everything you said. Another thing to take into consideration is that more 12 year olds died yesterday from car accidents, sports injuries, and domestic violence than died at WDW...even over the past 30+ years!!! It's terribly unfortunate that this boy passed, but I would advise parents that there are plenty of other things to worry about besides undetected congenital heart defects and roller coasters. I am not saying you shouldn't get any health concerns checked out, or even prohibit your children from riding thrillers if you perceive danger or it makes you really nervous. Just be aware that they are in more danger crossing the street on the way home from school than at WDW. Please, enjoy your vacations after taking reasonable precautions, and try not to worry TOO much!

 

[tracy51]

My father had Strep Throat as a child that developed into Rheumatic Fever. At the age of 29 he had to have surgery to put in an artificial valve. If I remember the story correctly, they originally thought it was going to be two valved because of how it sounded.

Even with though they keep good a good eye on his health knowing this condition, it still took a case of food poisoning for him to find out about a potientially fatal condition he had. Seriously. A year ago last April (day after my birthday) my dad stopped to get a sandwich for lunch while out on the road for work. A few hours later he became violently ill. At the hospital they decided to run an EKG and some other test. They noticed some spots - blockages - and scheduled him for a triple bypass the next Monday (this was Friday). When they were preforming the bypass the surgeon discovered he had and aortic aneuyrism and was able to repair it. This was something that most likely wouldn't have been detected otherwise until it burst and killed him.

I joke all the time about how food poisoning saved my Dad's life. But it took that to set in place the series of events that lead to the discovery of the aneuyrism and its repair. Just goes to show even when you know to watch out for things, you don't always know every pre-existing condition.

 

[Caitsmama]

It is just so sad.. I feel terrible for how this family had to find out about this - the boys heart problem i mean--

I just really really hope no one trys to put blame on WDW for this.. We just live in such a sue happy world..

 

[*Fantasia*]

I joke all the time about how food poisoning saved my Dad's life. But it took that to set in place the series of events that lead to the discovery of the aneuyrism and its repair. Just goes to show even when you know to watch out for things, you don't always know every pre-existing condition.

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..

 

[dizprincess717]

Boy oh boy, I would think with the all the recent ride-related (some from Disney, some from other parks) that parents would maybe want to get their children checked for any sort of conditions, beings that these conditions are so prevalent these days. Sad? Eh. Avoidable? Yes.

 

[suezb]

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 I just wanna give you a *hug*

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Even with a battery of tests it would be hard to catch something rare unless that is specifically what the doctors are looking for.

My friend had what is called a "Peyton foramen ovale" (sp?) which is a hole in her heart that typically closes when you are born. Hers didn't close, and in her mid-30's she had a stroke. The doctors told her if the hole hadn't been there the clot would have stuck in her heart and caused a heart attack. The hole allowed the clot to pass to her brain and cause a stroke. She is permanently disabled because she never completely regained her speech. This happened when her DD was 3 months old - so sad.

Another friend in his late 30's had a fatal heart attack 2 months after his doctors told him his chest pains were pleurisy.

I don't think there is a practical way to go about ruling out evry possible condition in every child. You have to live your life and hope for the best.

 

[Allison]

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..

Telly,

I just wanted to say I am amazed how you have been able to post here the last few days with this discussion going on. I'm sure it hits very close to home for you. Best wishes to you. I'm sure you have had to be unbelievably strong for your children.

This has stirred up a lot of sad feelings for me as my brother died unexpectedly when he was 12 years old. Our family never recovered from it and I think of it almost every day.

I feel so badly for this family.

 

[cz6018]

They aired a story regarding this on my local news in New Haven, CT. 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?!?!

-cz6018

 

[*Fantasia*]

I am so sorry to hear this I just wanna give you a *hug*

thank you sue.

 

[BlindTyldak]

They aired a story regarding this on my local news in New Haven, CT. 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?!?!

-cz6018

Actually the g-forces are pretty nominal on the Disney rides. They are much more severe on several other rides in carnivals and other theme parks.

 

[Mickey Fliers]

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?

Well, my DH is active duty Navy and I feel that my children have received wonderful care.

My children see a pediatrician or a family practioner, whoever I choose. These doctors have always been civilian doctors. The same ones that every one else in town sees. My DS (6 at the time) came down with a mysterious virus and we were actually sent to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Bethesda and literally had a round table of very distinguished physicians trying to figure out what was causing my sons illness.

They generally see the same Dr. for every visit, but remember, we move every 2-3 years.

No, as stated in several posts, this is probably not something that a pediatrician would have detected unless they were specifically looking for it.

My children probably see a Dr. more often than most, b/c I have the ability to take them whenever a sneeze arises (that is an exaggeration). But we don't have any co-pay to see our Dr. and prescriptions are only $3, so I never hesitate to see the Doc if I think something is wrong with my boys.

The medical care we receive as Military Dependants is wonderful and I don't think this poor family's military status has anything to due with this boy's death.

Now, the medical care my DH receives is another story....

 

[wendypooh]

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..

Telly, I've seen some of your post before and knew that you had lost your husband, I didn't know how, when, where, until now. Regardless of how, when, where, I'm so sorry for you and your little ones. My aunt lost her husband 4 years ago in a diving accident, he had a heart attach while diving down in the keys. She struggles everyday trying to raise her son, she is one brave, strong woman whom I admire. As you must be too. I can honestly say I don't know if I have the strength. I just want you to know that You are in my prayers, As is this young boy and his family. It's tragic no matter how, when or where. Everyone, hug your babies tonight and cherish each and every moment you have with loved ones.

 

[*Fantasia*]

Telly,

I just wanted to say I am amazed how you have been able to post here the last few days with this discussion going on. I'm sure it hits very close to home for you. Best wishes to you. I'm sure you have had to be unbelievably strong for your children.

This has stirred up a lot of sad feelings for me as my brother died unexpectedly when he was 12 years old. Our family never recovered from it and I think of it almost every day.

I feel so badly for this family.

Thank you Allison. Yea.. it kind of brought back memories. Things happen bad.. good.. but we have to keep living. No matter how bad it gets, we have to keep going. The boy dies on the RnR, yes I'm sad for the family and I can feel the pain of what the family is going through.. but I still have my life, and I must keep going. And I intend to keep going to Disney.

Sorry about your brother. {{{{hugs}}}}

I noticed that I have been posting here for the past few days.. this is a good thing! I miss the DIS board.. and I miss you guys!

 

[Kimberly815]

So very sad. My heart goes out to the family at this tough time.

 

[*Fantasia*]

Telly, I've seen some of your post before and knew that you had lost your husband, I didn't know how, when, where, until now. Regardless of how, when, where, I'm so sorry for you and your little ones. My aunt lost her husband 4 years ago in a diving accident, he had a heart attach while diving down in the keys. She struggles everyday trying to raise her son, she is one brave, strong woman whom I admire. As you must be too. I can honestly say I don't know if I have the strength. I just want you to know that You are in my prayers, As is this young boy and his family. It's tragic no matter how, when or where. Everyone, hug your babies tonight and cherish each and every moment you have with loved ones.

Thank you wendypooh... I appreciate your kind words. I find my strength from the kids. They are the ones that keeps me going and keeps me strong for me and them. And with lots of prayers and having faith knowing everything is going to be okay, that's what helps me. The kids are good and I am doing much better. As time goes, it gets a litte bit easier.

I'm sorry about your Aunt's husband. I hope she's doing fine with her son.

Telly

 

[shadonjenon]

She was diagnosied at 6mths with a heart murmer. Our family physican sent us to childrens hospital to have an ekg to find the cause of the murmer. They discovered a 3rd degree heart block. In short the top chambers of her heart and the bottom chambers don't communicate with each other. So her heart rate is very slow about 40-50 beats per minute. A child her age should have about 90-100 bpm. My husband and I are very thankful that we had a family physican who did COMPLETE physicals and didn't just gloss over the murmer. My dd sees a cardiologist at childrens twice a year, she wears a heart monator once or twice a year for 24 hours and we keep an eye out for any changes in her condition. She is a normal 7yr old in all appearences and she keeps up with children her age very well. In the future she may need a pace maker but I beleive in miracles and pray that she will continue to thrive.

I shared that to say that it is easy to miss or dismiss something like that. You have to make sure that your doctors are doing COMPLETE examines and taking good long listens to your childrens hearts. My daughter could have gone undiagnosed and it could have been me at a theme park wondering how my seemingly healthy child was dead.

Of course my dd does not get to ride thrill rides, but thats what's great about disney there are so many other things for her to enjoy that she will never miss them.

 

[wendypooh]

Thank you wendypooh... I appreciate your kind words. I find my strength from the kids. They are the ones that keeps me going and keeps me strong for me and them. And with lots of prayers and having faith knowing everything is going to be okay, that's what helps me. The kids are good and I am doing much better. As time goes, it gets a litte bit easier.

I'm sorry about your Aunt's husband. I hope she's doing fine with her son.

Telly

Thank You so much, she is, like you said, getting better each day. Your words only prove my point, you are a strong, brave woman. I applaud you for your strength. You and my aunt are an inspiration to keep on living, loving and enjoying life, that is after all what they would want!!! Bless you and your children. My aunt and her son are doing amazingly well, they choose to celebrate his life and his love of life. He'd be devastated if they didn't. He'd be proud of them, especially her for her strength and courage to keep on going and taking care of thier son. Sorry for the hijack here....... Best wishes for you Telly and your beautiful children.

Prayers go out to this boys family.

 

[jimenyfan]

I had my DS to our family physician for a physical for high school football, ds is 14 and very tall and thin(6'1 140lbs) this seemed perferctly normal to me, however our dr sent us to a pediatric cardiologist to check for something called Marfan's syndrome(Marfans causes sudden death in many children during sports etc) apparently one of the things they look for in kids is being very tall and lanky. My son has played sports all of his life and thankfully his EKG was fine, but this can be one of those times when you have absolutly no idea something could be wrong. What a terrible time this family is going through and my thoughts and prayers will be going to them for a long time.

 

[jimenyfan]

They aired a story regarding this on my local news in New Haven, CT. 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?!?!

-cz6018

You would probably have to ask the coroner that question. Millions of people rides these rides with no problems and unfortunatly there are many underlying heart conditions that arent caught until it is to late.