Mum tells of horror as tot’s heart rate rose to 208 beats a minute
THE mother of a toddler born with an inherited heart condition has told of the horror she felt when her daughter’s heartbeat rose to a dangerously high 280 beats a minute.
Two-year-old Evelyn Anderton, of Mountsorrel, had just returned from her nursery school in September last year when she first became ill.
Mum Emma, 39, had no idea at the time that her little girl had been living with a ticking time bomb.
She explained how Evelyn - who was eventually diagnosed with Brugada syndrome, a genetic condition which can cause erratic heart rhythms and lead to a fatal cardiac arrest if left untreated – had “never been unwell before”.
“She had been at nursery that day and had been fine,” said Emma. “But within 10 minutes of getting home she suddenly had a really high temperature and was lethargic.
“She had never been unwell before.
“I think my mother’s instinct just kicked in that something was seriously wrong, so I rang 999.”
Evelyn was taken by ambulance to Leicester Royal Infirmary, where her heartbeat suddenly soared to 280 beats per minute.
It should be between 70 and 100. “It was absolutely terrifying,” said Emma, who was taken to a family room while medics treated Evelyn.
Dad John, 54, who had been declared to be in remission after six months of chemotherapy treatment for lymphoma cancer, had been unable to be with his wife and daughter due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Emma said: “There were a team of doctors tending to Evelyn – it was a real scene of an emergency. It was just a really stressful time and I was in a state of shock. We were just so worried about what was going to happen to her.”
Evelyn was given a drug which helped bring her heart rate back to a normal level and she was then transferred to Glenfield Hospital’s paediatric intensive care unit for further tests.
After initially stabilising, her heart rate again increased dramatically, and it was several hours before it could be brought back under control.
It was several days later, after further tests, that doctors confirmed Evelyn had the potentially life-threatening Brugada syndrome.
Consultants from both Glenfield and Birmingham Children’s Hospitals decided that the toddler would benefit from a defibrillator device to treat any dangerous heart rhythms.
It was fitted in Evelyn’s abdomen, rather than the usual position in the chest.
“The cardiology unit told us that they had only come across a few cases of someone so young being diagnosed with Brugada syndrome,” said Emma. “The surgeons at Glenfield also said that Evelyn was the smallest person they had given a defibrillator to.”
Evelyn spent 17 days in hospital before she was allowed to return home. She will now have to take antiarrhythmic drugs for the longterm.
Following her diagnosis, her parents have been determined to raise awareness of her condition – and money towards further research.
Through sharing Evelyn’s story, they raised around £4,000 for the British Heart Foundation (BHF) – and another £1,000 by walking 100km in a month earlier this year.
“We wanted to raise funds for the BHF and awareness of Brugada syndrome and other rare heart conditions, so more research can be done to help stop anyone from losing a loved one,” said Emma.
“We really hope that, one day, genetic testing will be available for more people so conditions like Evelyn’s can be picked up sooner.”
Evelyn has now scooped the BHF’s Young Heart Hero Award in recognition of her bravery.
Her parents said they were thrilled with the award, which was announced at the BHF’s virtual Heart Hero Awards last week, on World Heart Day.
“We were so proud to be told that Evelyn was a winner,” said Emma. “My hopes and dreams for Evelyn are that she leads a happy and normal life and that her condition isn’t going to affect her.”
The BHF event showcased inspiring people who have “shown courage, resilience, compassion and bravery in the face of adversity”.