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Two days ago a young 9th grade football player died in Atlanta. I posted the newspaper articles in the Sudden Death Forum just a little bit ago. I had taken James (diagnosed in January, and ICD implanted in April) to the pediatrician on Tuesday (yesterday). The doctor was well aware of this young man's death and new of course of James' diagnosis. He had all the doctors in the practice to come in and listen to James' heart and put their hand on his chest to feel the way the heart beats differently in this disease. He was telling them that it is so suttle that doctors miss it all the time. Most of the doctors there had never heard the murmur or diagnosed this disease in any patients. He was telling them that missing this diagnosis could cost someone their life. Their practice does tons of school physicals. This young man that died had had two phyicals earlier this year and it was missed on both physicals. I told James that he could very well contribute to saving someones life by allowing those doctors to listen to his heart and feel his chest. It seemed to make him feel good. He told me how glad he was that he has an ICD now. I am just so thankful we know about James and he can't end up an article in the newspaper! It's a shame that more doctors can see actual patients with known diagnosis of this disease so that they do know exactly what it sound like.
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