Right to the HEART of the Mater..
The Mater Hospital’s Family Heart Screening Clinic Celebrates 5th Anniversary
In Ireland, more than one young person dies from an undiagnosed heart condition each week. The Mater Heart Appeal raises much-needed funds for the Mater Hospital’s Family Heart Screening Clinic, where relatives of loved ones who have died from SADS (Sudden Adult Death Syndrome) or survived a Sudden Cardiac Arrest, can be screened for undiagnosed heart conditions.
Now celebrating its 5th Anniversary, the Mater Family Heart Screening Clinic has seen a massive increase in demand for its services, with almost 500 extended families from all over Ireland seeking help with screening and diagnosing familial causes of cardiac disease. Identifying genetic cardiac conditions is a speciality of the clinic, and with some families running to more than 20 members, this is a complex and lengthy process.
Key to the Family Heart Screening Clinic is the level of care, attention and appropriate and timely assistance that is provided to the sometimes bereaved, but always anxious families who avail of the service. The screening allows the medical team to make important diagnoses in over one-third of families who attend because of a sudden unexpected death of a close family member – and whist no one wishes to find out that they have a hidden heart condition; the importance of instituting proper preventive measures in saving lives cannot be overstated.
For the month of February, the Mater Heart Appeal will encourage people to donate much needed funds online at www.materfoundation.ie or by texting MATER to 51500 to pledge a donation. In addition, people can purchase a Mater Heart Badge which will be on sale nationwide costing just €2, the proceeds of which will go directly to the running of the Family Heart Screening Clinic.
At the centre of this year’s Mater Heart Appeal is twenty-three year old Jennifer Burke from Dublin, whose Mother suddenly passed away at just 33 years of age in 1993. What was thought at the time to be an unexplained tragedy turned out to be an undetected genetic condition that ran in their family for generations, with a number of other close relatives dying unexpectedly at a young age. Four years later, Jennifer and her brother completed an ECG and stress test, however nothing was detected.
In 2010 Jennifer decided to get re-tested at the Family Heart Screening Clinic and was subsequently diagnosed with Long QT syndrome, which can make the heart more vulnerable to an abnormal heart rhythm, similar to that which doctors believe may have affected Jennifer’s mother. Jennifer was fitted with a heart monitor and further genetic testing revealed that Jennifer needed to take beta blockers to keep her heart rhythm steady. She has also had to make small changes to her lifestyle so as to not trigger her condition. However Jennifer continues to live a full and healthy life and is delighted that the diagnosis and screening process has given peace of mind to her and her family.
Jennifer commented, “Thank you to all the team at the Family Heart Screening Clinic for the awareness they have given me and the support to me and my family.”
Jennifer is now working in conjunction with The Mater Heart Appeal to highlight the awareness of the work the Family Heart Screening Clinic does and the importance of raising much-needed funds for this vital service. The clinic is funded solely through The Mater Heart Appeal and as yet, no government funding has been received for this clinic in support of its services.
This year The Mater Heart Appeal has been launched by international rugby player Tommy Bowe, who took time out of his busy training schedule for the upcoming Six Nations to support this campaign, “I cannot stress enough the importance of the Mater Heart Appeal. Sudden Adult Death Syndrome is all too common in Ireland and I admire the work the Mater Heart Family Screening Clinic is doing to build awareness about this issue. I urge that people text and donate to support this worthy cause.”
Dr Catherine McGorrian, Consultant Cardiologist, “The Family Heart Screening Clinic at the Mater Heart House has grown every year since we opened in 2007, and more and more families who need our services are able to access the support and care that they need. Through our screening, we can identify heart conditions in some at-risk families which they were not previously aware of, and help prevent further tragedies. The support given to our clinic allows us to continue to help families, many of whom have experienced the tragic sudden death of a young person.”
Mary Moorhead, Chief Executive of The Mater Foundation commented, “The Mater Heart Appeal has been fundraising for the Family Heart Screening Clinic for the last seven years and since then, over €2.4 million has been raised for this vital services. I am delighted that this year we are celebrating the 5th anniversary of the clinic opening. When you hear how the clinic has helped people like Jennifer you feel very proud of all the donors who make this service possible. There has been great development in the clinic since 2007, including in the area of research. We have a huge fundraising target of €500,000 this year but hopefully with the continued support from the public the clinic will continue to be a centre of excellence for many years to come.”
The Mater Heart Appeal will take place throughout February 2012
Text MATER to 51500 to pledge a donation and help fight SADS by screening.
The Family Heart Screening Clinic, Heart House, 53 Eccles Street, Dublin 7
For further information please contact 
The Mater Foundation on 01 830 3482, www.materfoundation.ie
