Little Leilah could now save other lives (From Northwich Guardian)

Family from Orchard Street, Northwich raise money for defibrillators after four-year-old daughter suffers cardiac arrest

11:57am Thursday 16th August 2012 in News

THE parents of a four-year-old girl who survived a cardiac arrest are on a mission to get life-saving defibrillators into schools.

Chris and Ruth Helm, of Orchard Street, Northwich, were awakened by their daughter Leilah crying out in her sleep during the early hours of February 27.

They found Leilah struggling to breathe and former nurse Ruth administered CPR and the emergency services arrived within six minutes.

Ruth, 41, said: “Our journey to the hospital seemed to take forever. It was a journey to the unknown. We had no idea what we would be faced with when we got there. I presumed the worst.”

Leilah was taken to Leighton Hospital, sedated, put on a ventilator and placed on a special cooling mattress to prevent swelling to her brain.

The next day she was able to breathe independently and doctors diagnosed her with a genetic heart defect called Long QT Syndrome. The incident prompted the family to found the LQTS Fund, initially for a defibrillator for Leilah. Ruth soon found they were overwhelmed with support.

Ruth said: “People just kept on giving money and we soon had more than enough for Leilah, so we wanted to get them for local schools.”

The LQTS Fund has already paid for defibrillators for The County High School in Leftwich, UCAN and Hartford High School.

“What happened to Leilah just proves it can happen to anyone. We have had no history of anything like this in our family and she could be the first to have it,” said Ruth. “If it saves one life it would be worth it.”

Leilah is now on medication and doing well, but the condition is a constant presence in the family’s life. The youngster will never be able to take part in competitive sport and Chris and Ruth were told to remove balloons from the home in case they burst and startle her. “I’m not ashamed to admit I still have a cry two or three times a week but we have to keep reminding ourselves how lucky she is to be alive,” added Ruth. To donate to LQTS Fund or to organise a fundraising event email lqtsfund@aol.com . Visit facebook.com/LQTSFund.

SADS: The facts...

Sudden Arrhythmic Death in the Young UK (SADS) say up to 270 children die from sudden cardiac arrests in British schools each year, but there is no requirement for defibrillators to be kept on their premises.

 As many as one in 500 children may suffer from cardiomyopathy, or conditions such as Long QT, Brugada, CPVT and Wolf Parkinson White Syndrome.

Sports activities can exacerbate cardiac problems.

 Details at sadsuk.org.uk