by pamela mcgowan Health Reporter

Published at 05:31, Friday, 18 July 2008

BEING diagnosed with heart disease was hard enough for Lou Wood but finding out she had passed it on to two of her three children was a nightmare come true.

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Tragically, in 2005, six years after being diagnosed with cardiomyopathy, son Brendan died while waiting for a vital heart transplant, aged 22.

Ever since, Lou has been determined to raise awareness about the condition and help other families affected by it. And both she and daughter Esma, 27, are living proof that there is still hope for those who are diagnosed.

Now Lou, along with fellow sufferer Margaret Hannah, has launched a support group for cardiomyopathy sufferers living across Cumbria.

They hope that by sharing their experiences they can inspire others to think positively and beat the disease, which causes the heart muscle to enlarge and gradually stops it pumping as strongly. Lou, 56, of Hawthorn Place, off Orton Road, Carlisle, was diagnosed with the condition 10 years ago.

She said: “I just ran out of steam. I was working as a chef at the time and just seemed to get more and more tired. I had difficulty breathing so I went to the doctor.”

While waiting for the results of blood tests her breathing became worse and she was taken to the Cumberland Infirmary where she was diagnosed. Her condition gradually deteriorated and in 2002 she had a life-saving heart transplant.

Although she still has bad days it has enabled her to go back to work and get on with life.

After being diagnosed, Lou contacted the Cardiomyopathy Association (CMA) who told her it may be genetic and recommended screening.

Brendan was diagnosed at 16. Despite this Lou said he never let it rule his life, which he lived to the full, but it sadly got the better of him in November 2005. He was transferred to Newcastle in December and put on the list for an emergency transplant. Sadly he died on New Year’s Eve.

He was able to donate his eyes and Lou takes comfort from the fact he has helped others.

Only Lou’s youngest son Josh, 21, has escaped the condition. But, although she has also inherited it daughter Esme is proof that it is not all doom and gloom.

She is able to control the condition through drugs.

It is this positive message that Lou wants to get across to other sufferers, which is why she and Margaret – herself a mother-of-two – are launching the new support group and want to hear from affected families in the area.

The Cumbria & Borders Cardiomyopathy Support Group will meet for the first time on Monday at The Hub/Elim Community Church in Spencer Street.

Both Lou and Margaret, 67, of Warwick Road, have been through some very tough times in recent years.

But they share a positive mental attitude and both believe this is the key to coping with cardiomyopathy.

n Monday’s meeting starts at 7.30pm and the guest speaker will be Robert Hall, chief executive of the CMA.

For further details contact Lou on 07828 900106 or Margaret on 07764 837787.

Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk