West Echo
Thursday, 4 August 2011
Charity donates €15k for CRY unit
Ireland Funds network assist Tallaght cardiac screening service
By Mary Dennehy
[email protected]
A FREE screening service at Tallaght Hospital which evaluates those at risk of sudden cardiac death syndrome has been awarded fifteen thousand euro from The Ireland Funds Trust.
Earlier this year, a team from The Ireland Funds – an international charitable network which raises money for worthy causes – visited the Centre for Cardiovascular Risk in Younger Persons (CRYP), which is led by consultant cardiologist Dr. Deirdre Ward.
During the visit they saw first hand the work of the doctors, nurses and administrators who run the service, as well as speaking with patients being evaluated.
The unit, run by Irish Charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), which raises funds to support families who have lost a relative to sudden cardiac death syndrome, helps raise awareness of the devastating condition and to fund the CRYP unit at Tallaght – which receives no direct Government funding.
The Centre which can see up to 1,500 patients a year, provides comprehensive cardiac evaluation of those who may be at risk of sudden cardiac death either because of family history or worrying symptoms.
According to CRY, an estimated 60-80 people, aged one to 35 years , die of sudden cardiac death syndrome every year in Ireland.
While conditions that cause the illness cannot be cured, once diagnosed the risk can be significantly reduced.
Speaking after The Ireland Funds announced this contribution, Michael Greene, Chairman of CRY, said “we were very pleased to meet a team from The Ireland Funds who visited us in May, and now we are absolutely delighted that they have decided to support our work with a very generous donation”.
“This significant donation will greatly assist in funding the work at the Centre in what are clearly very challenging times for the Irish health service. I would like to publicly thank The Ireland Funds for their support”.
Visit, www.cry.ie or call 01 4525482 for further details.
“The main thing is getting home to my wife, Gill and five-year-old Dylan; he’s looking forward to getting his dad back.
“Gradually I hope to return to work and to start cycling again as that is my main love,” said Mr. Green.
The device was fitted during a six-hour operation last month.
Although similar operations have been carried out in the past, it is the first time a patient has been able to leave hospital thanks to a mobile device which will power the heart. “Two years ago I was cycling nine miles to work and nine miles back every day but by the time I was admitted to hospital I was struggling to walk even a few yards. I am really excited about going home … playing in the garden with my son and cooking a meal for my family.”
The SynCardia artificial heart provides a blood flow of up to 9 ½ litres, eliminating the symptoms and effects of severe heart failure. It will be powered by a “freedom portable driver”, worn like a backpack or shoulder bag.
Mr. Green suffered from arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopthia, a heart muscle disease which results in arrhythmia, heart failure and sudden death.
Steven Tsui, consultant cardiothoracic surgeon and director of the transplant service, said : “At any point in time there may be as many as 30 people waiting for a heart transplant on our waiting list at Papworth, with one-third waiting over a year. Matthew’s condition was deteriorating rapidly and we discussed with him the possibility of receiving this device, because without it he may not have survived the wait until a suitable donor heart could be found for him.
“The operation went extremely well and Matthew has made an excellent recovery.” – (PA)