When we are feeling well, we often don’t think about the complex interconnected systems that make up our body.  The human body is amazing but difficult to understand, so it’s sometimes easier to react with treatment when something goes wrong as opposed to taking a proactive approach. Like any tragic event that happens in our life, health issues push us to reflect upon our choices, our relationships; we often remember what is most important, but then we go on with our busy lives. Our family tries to live our lives in the most positive way we can, even in the face of tough news or events, but it’s also good to sometimes take stock of what is truly most important. I often start workshops with this quote and each time I read it, it causes me to stop and think.

For those who may not know our family history, I will start in 2001 with an event that shook our family to the core,  just before I left for my first international placement in Mexico. I didn’t meet Rose until 2002 so this was before meeting my life partner, having a family, and embarking on a 19 year international career.  My sister Jackie was 31, playing softball, and dropped on the field when her heart stopped. Even though her team-mate, steps away, was a firefighter, certified with life-saving skills, there was still no reviving her with CPR. At the time, the autopsy was inconclusive and deemed likely to be a virus of the heart or something similar. I could write for pages on the influence my sister had on me, and how delivering the eulogy at her funeral  was crucial closure for me, in an attempt to share her amazing life, in addition to sharing what an incredible person she was. For the sake of time, I will share the significance of medical progression, as we fast forward to 2018. My Nephew collapsed at a work placement for his University Co-op at Purolator. Our family is eternally thankful to the Purolator team who saved his life in addition to the fact that there was a defibrillator in that workplace and they knew how to use it. This has certainly highlighted the need for these devices in the workplace in addition to ensuring staff are trained to use them.

Once diagnosed it was conclusive that both my sister and nephew had/have ARVC (Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy.)  ARVC is a genetic disorder, and we certainly know more now than we did in 2001.  As sudden heart failure can sometimes be the first symptom to appear, it makes it very difficult to wrap your head around the diagnosis as you feel fine. We are thankful that there is now a genetic test to identify the gene that is not working properly, and ICD’s, Implantable Cardioverter  Defibrillators,which is essentially a personal defibrillator which can react to a cardiac event at any time.  I am next in line to receive this device which will be implanted on my ribcage. What an amazing day and age we live in, in which we are given this safety net for the rest of our lives.  The only maintenance required is a battery change every 7 years, and who knows how that will evolve in the time to come. With my metal hips, separated shoulder and ICD, it seems I could be more robot than man now…

Surprisingly, we have learned that 1 in 7000 people have ARVC, and when you hear about athletes whose hearts have stopped suddenly (Recently Jay Bouwmeester) on the field or as they run, often they are carriers of this gene. In Italy they now require this blood test for any youth headed toward an elite sport career.

We feel very fortunate that we have access to excellent health care, and continue to keep perspective and live our best lives everyday as best we can. I personally believe that you can choose whether to see life as a series of obstacles testing your resilience, or as an amazing journey that sometimes has bumps on the road.  Let’s choose the latter, grab the handlebars and enjoy the ride.