On Wednesday 13th July 2022, just two weeks after a holiday to Cyprus where we celebrated Abby’s 30th birthday as a family, I spent the day volunteering at a vulnerable mother and baby food bank and my wife worked her second keeping in touch day at White Court Primary school where she worked as a Teacher, our lives changed forever.

Abby went for a run after our two sons Parker and Rafferty (at the time aged 2.5years and 11.5months) had been put to bed. Just 650m in, she collapsed and her heart pretty much stopped on the spot. After the kind attempts of the public, an off duty nurse and the speed of calling the emergency services, the paramedics and doctors tried for 2 hours to get her heart beating again to no avail.

I have had to adapt pretty quickly from being the working husband to a single parent of 2 young boys which is a learning curve that I never thought I would need. Abby and I were together pretty much all of our adult life, 12 years and were married for almost the last 4. I will cherish our memories forever.

After 11 weeks of pain whilst awaiting the coroners report on the cause of death, it bought quite frankly the most shocking news and something I was not even aware could happen. The final cause of death was listed as SADS (Sudden Arrythmic Death Syndrome). After a bit of research this could have been a defect in her heart that had been sitting there for some time, and a heart test could have prevented it. The boys are currently awaiting an appointment at Great Ormond Street Hospital to have their hearts tested. 

Every week in the UK at least 12 young people die of undiagnosed heart conditions. Since its formation in 1995, Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) has been working to reduce the frequency of young sudden cardiac death (YSCD). CRY supports young people diagnosed with potentially life-threatening cardiac conditions and offers bereavement support to families affected by YSCD. CRY promotes and develops heart screening programmes and funds medical research. CRY publishes and distributes medical information written by leading cardiologists for the general public. CRY funds specialist referral, screening and cardiac pathology services at leading UK hospitals. 

Although I am trying to work out how to raise 2 young children as a single parent, work out how to grieve the loss of my beautiful wife and gear up for my return to work, in April 2023, I will be taking on the huge challenge of running the London Landmarks Half Marathon. This might sound easy but for someone who started 2022 about 4 stone overweight, it is going to be tricky. 

If you see me training, please do give me a smile, wave or beep!!

It is too late for me to save the mother of my children/my wife, but it will never be too late for me to help prevent the loss of someone elses Mother/Father, Husband/Wife or Son/Daughter. Thank you so much in advance for donating whatever you can, it really will make a massive difference.

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