Brian Falzon

We became involved with SADS when our 19 year old son, Brian collapsed and died during class at MSU. He felt ill and asked for permission to leave to get some fresh air. He collapsed in a courtyard that wasn’t heavily trafficked. He was not discovered for thirteen minutes and attempts to revive him were futile. He was pronounced DOA at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing. Our lives were shattered.

Brian was always healthy, never a  broken bone and the autopsy could not find anything, but upon review of his medical history they read he had a fainting spell a year before where he was incoherent and taken to Emergency. In Emergency, they tested him for numerous things, but never ran an ECG. After twelve hours of observation, he was released with low blood sugar as the diagnosis. We followed up with acomplete physical two days later and again no ECG was done The fainting spell was our warning; a warning that the medical profession discounted because he was a healthy young adult.

Brian died from what they believe to be LQT, an electrical defect of the heart that can cause a very fast heart rhythm (arrhythmia) which leads to fainting and sometimes, as with Brian, sudden cardiac death. The irony is hat LQT is easily treatable with oral beta blockers, pacemakers, or surgical procedures, if diagnosed.

Dr. G. Michael Vincent began studying and treating patients with the LQT syndrome. He became frustrated by the number of young people remaining undiagnosed, untreated and ultimately dying through lack of physician knowledge or screening. He began formalized research and nationwide educational awareness to help stop the sudden cardiac death in young people.

In memory of Brian and all the other young people who have lost their lives to sudden cardiac death, won’t you please join us in helping SADS stop this silent killer.

With our heartfelt thanks,
Chris and Denise