here's my story jonathan
Lizzie Marston
In some ways, Vicki Roberts is the average BRMHS sophomore. She worries about her grades and spends her free time horseback riding or on her skateboard. In other ways Vicki is not so average. Roberts’ heart can not be counted on to beat for itself.
At age fourteen, Roberts was diagnosed with Long QT Syndrome, a hereditary disorder that affects the heart’s electrical rhythm. When the heart contracts, it emits electrical signals, which can be measured using an electrocardiogram or ECG. The waves measured by the ECG are represented by the letters P, Q, R, S, and T. The Q-T interval represents the time it takes for the ventricle chambers in the heart to contract and release. If the cycle takes longer than normal to happen, it is called a prolonged Q-T interval.
The syndrome often goes undetected, even as a cause of death.
“I’ve had it since I was born, but I didn’t know about it until I was fourteen, I went to the emergency room when I thought I was having an Asthma attack.”said Roberts.
. LQTS is dangerous because it makes people with the syndrome susceptible to an arrhythmia, or abnormally high heart rate. When an arrhythmia occurs, heart muscles are not able to function correctly and blood fails to get to the brain.
“If LQTS goes untreated, your heart pace can get to die and cause an arrhythmia. You can die in your sleep.” said Roberts.
There are three categories of LQTS. Roberts falls into the third and most rare category
In October Roberts underwent her first surgery to have an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) inserted.
“It’s not like open heart surgery.”she said. The operation left only a small scar above Roberts’ heart. The ICD acts as a protection against an arrhythmia. If her heart starts acting irregularly it will kick in and correct her hearts rhythms.
“It basically makes your heart beat for you. I haven’t been shocked yet, but people who have say it feels like getting kicked in the chest.”
Because Long QT syndrome is hereditary, the discovery that Roberts had LQTS meant that her family was at risk too. The only complication, however, was the fact that Roberts had never met her biological family, Vicki was adopted without knowing them. Because Roberts’ adoption records were closed, Roberts and her mother feared that they would never be able to inform her biological family about the syndrome.
However, adoption records may be opened if an illness like LQTS is discovered. Upon reviewing the records, Roberts learned that her biological father and aunt had both died at young ages.
Roberts does not let her condition scare her. Her only frustrations are the limitations LQTS will put on her future.
“I was going to join the army but because of LQTS I can’t. It really takes out a lot of options for later in life.”
Meanwhile, Roberts continues to live her life as the average BRMHS student, fighting a not so average battle against her heart.
485 words
In some ways, Vicki Roberts is the average BRMHS sophomore. She worries about her grades and spends her free time horseback riding or on her skateboard. In other ways Vicki is not so average. Roberts’ heart can not be counted on to beat for itself.
At age fourteen, Roberts was diagnosed with Long QT Syndrome, a hereditary disorder that affects the heart’s electrical rhythm. When the heart contracts, it emits electrical signals, which can be measured using an electrocardiogram or ECG. The waves measured by the ECG are represented by the letters P, Q, R, S, and T. The Q-T interval represents the time it takes for the ventricle chambers in the heart to contract and release. If the cycle takes longer than normal to happen, it is called a prolonged Q-T interval.
The syndrome often goes undetected, even as a cause of death.
“I’ve had it since I was born, but I didn’t know about it until I was fourteen, I went to the emergency room when I thought I was having an Asthma attack.”said Roberts.
. LQTS is dangerous because it makes people with the syndrome susceptible to an arrhythmia, or abnormally high heart rate. When an arrhythmia occurs, heart muscles are not able to function correctly and blood fails to get to the brain.
“If LQTS goes untreated, your heart pace can get to die and cause an arrhythmia. You can die in your sleep.” said Roberts.
There are three categories of LQTS. Roberts falls into the third and most rare category
In October Roberts underwent her first surgery to have an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) inserted.
“It’s not like open heart surgery.”she said. The operation left only a small scar above Roberts’ heart. The ICD acts as a protection against an arrhythmia. If her heart starts acting irregularly it will kick in and correct her hearts rhythms.
“It basically makes your heart beat for you. I haven’t been shocked yet, but people who have say it feels like getting kicked in the chest.”
Because Long QT syndrome is hereditary, the discovery that Roberts had LQTS meant that her family was at risk too. The only complication, however, was the fact that Roberts had never met her biological family, Vicki was adopted without knowing them. Because Roberts’ adoption records were closed, Roberts and her mother feared that they would never be able to inform her biological family about the syndrome.
However, adoption records may be opened if an illness like LQTS is discovered. Upon reviewing the records, Roberts learned that her biological father and aunt had both died at young ages.
Roberts does not let her condition scare her. Her only frustrations are the limitations LQTS will put on her future.
“I was going to join the army but because of LQTS I can’t. It really takes out a lot of options for later in life.”
Meanwhile, Roberts continues to live her life as the average BRMHS student, fighting a not so average battle against her heart.
485 words