FAI Heart Care Programme detected Mayo FC goalkeeper's rare condition
The Mrs Brown’s Boys FAI Heart Care Programme provides essential heart screening for children and adolescents playing at League of Ireland Academy level, writes Patrick Hennelly.
Last year, Mayo FC Under 17 and Under 20 goalkeeper Harry Naylor went for a routine scan as part of the programme and later found out that he had Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome. Thankfully, the condition was detected in time and Harry is making a full recovery after his surgery in March, and is looking forward to eventually breaking into the Mayo FC first team.
League of Ireland Academy executive Andrew McGouran explained the vital role of the Heart Care Programme when he visited Umbro Park, Milebush, last week.
He said: “This programme is one of the aspects of our League of Ireland Academy programme which includes cardiac screening/health care, mental health support, education, and gambling awareness. We're delighted again to team up with Brendan O’Carroll and Mrs Brown Boys, who have given incredible support to fund this cardiac programme and to be able to roll out the screening to all the League of Ireland Academy clubs for the second year.
“We're here with Mayo FC today just to support them in their fantastic efforts and particularly to see how Harry is getting on after his screening results last year and the positive impact the programme has had for him.
“We are fully supportive of all the clubs who engaged in this programme, and it's such a critical programme for all our 2,500 academy players.”
Andrew added: “Last year, roughly 25 players needed second assessments, and three, including Harry, needed surgery and intervention. I think out of all the players who were detected with a heart condition, 99% of them showed no symptoms at all. They were fit, healthy children who are enjoying sports of all types, which will show us that certain issues, like cardiac issues, can often go undetected, and there have been some high-profile incidents in recent times, such as Christian Eriksen.
“Despite all our best efforts, sometimes the human body can make decisions without us knowing. The Mrs Brown's Boys Programme is such a critical programme, and the cardiac screening gives the players, coaches, and parents some peace of mind that there's that protection in place.”
Andrew would like to see the programme develop even further. He explained: “We hope to be able to complete the screening of all our academy players this summer – over 2,500 in total. The money at the moment, through Mrs Brown's Boys, is ring-fenced specifically for the academy programme. Our colleagues from AMS (Advanced Medical Services), who deliver the screening programme, have been superb and we're delighted with the level of professionalism, the follow-up, and the communication with parents and players.
“I think the fact that we can demonstrate how important this has been through real-life results shows how we're using that funding and how clubs have embraced it, such as here at Mayo FC.”
INSIGHT
Harry Naylor explained that he had no conditions or any inclination that he had a heart condition as he gave us an insight into Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome.
The 'keeper said: “I didn't even know what an ECG was until last year when we booked the test. It was a big shock then to get the phone call, and you have to kind of adjust, and it was two to three weeks of no sporting activity. I was just waiting around for the appointment. Once I got the all-clear, I was just trying to get back into the normal routine of training and everything.
“It was Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. If I kept playing with that condition, my heart could have just sped up randomly and I could have collapsed. I don't know what would have happened if it wasn't picked up.
“I haven't had to make any adjustments to my lifestyle or training and everything is going along normally.
“I want every young sports person and player to get checked out. Because you never know, if you don't have symptoms, you're never going to think about getting checked out. I think the more people get checked then that is another issue resolved. There's less chance of them collapsing on a pitch or having problems later on in life. It probably will be scary getting the ECG done, but it's all worth it in the long run.”
With regard to his future in the game, Harry has big ambitions. He said: “I'm hoping to get into the first team at Mayo FC and play men's football as soon as possible. Hopefully I can reach the highest level possible in my career.”
For Harry’s mum, Isla Naylor, the last year was a worrying time for the family. She said: “Harry showed no symptoms, which would have been dizziness, chest pain, headaches. I don't like to think what might have happened if the condition hadn't been picked up. It's pretty scary really. And I thought it was scary going through the diagnosis, but then you actually think what could have happened. But thank God, we had a fantastic professor who specialises in Harry's condition. We were really lucky.”
Harry’s brother Jack plays for the Mayo FC Under 20 team. Jack also availed of the heart screening programme, and he concurred with his brother’s view as to how important it is for young people to get their heart health checked.
“Obviously with Harry’s diagnosis, it was very important for me to get checked as well, and to make sure that everything was okay,” said Jack.
Andrew praised the Naylor family for sharing their story and highlighting the importance of heart screening. “We all know that medical issues are very private to each person and to their family, particularly when we're dealing with kids from 14 up to 20, so to speak. It takes an element of courage for either Harry or his family to tell their story. We want the best for all our players, and we want the best for all our clubs.
“To see a programme like this making such an important intervention in this case makes it work well a thousand times over. I think there's an onus on parents in particular to make sure that they take advantage of these screening programmes. It only takes a maximum of 30 minutes.”
IMPACT
Mayo FC club doctor, Dr. Lisa Cunningham, said the FAI Heart Care Programme has had a big impact on the lives of underage footballers. “Not just on the sport,” she added, “but on the lives of these people that are actually getting screened. Because we know that undetected heart conditions can lead to sudden cardiac arrest in the youth. And sometimes that's only the first presentation of having an undiagnosed cardiac problem.
“If we can capture them earlier through the screening process, then we know that that reduces the risk of having a cardiac arrest. It also gives a huge amount of information for the families of these sports people and the teenagers on the potential of whether they need to get screened as well. It has a huge knock-on effect – not just for the sports person, but for the families as well, and the communities, because they see this happening.”
Dr. Cunningham said Harry’s story should be an example to other young sportspeople to get their health checked.
“Look at the impact that it's had for his family as well and they are reassured that this screening has picked something up that potentially could have been a very disastrous event for that family and a tragic event further down the road. The opportunity for young players to get screened through the Brendan O’Carroll Mrs Brown's Boys Foundation is one not to be missed. The screening is life-changing and lifesaving.”
Dr. Cunningham is delighted to see Mayo FC embrace this programme. She stated: “I am a consultant in emergency medicine at Mayo University Hospital. If we hear that there's a young person that is coming in from the community with cardiac arrest, my first thoughts are: ‘Is this a sports person, and is this somebody that potentially had an opportunity for screening?’
“If you have somebody that has a cardiac arrest from an undiagnosed cardiac condition, then time is such a vital thing for them to be able to get the defibrillator, etc.
“It's great to see that the club (Mayo FC) has taken this initiative, and I really hope that there will be a large uptake of this programme.”
Mayo FC’s Joe Murray coached Harry at underage level, and he pointed out how important it is to implement the FAI Heart Care Programme.
“We are lucky to have it available for our players,” he continued. “Our players are training three to four times a week and playing games every week, and they are very, very active kids, so it's important that everything is checked and screened.
“For us, Harry’s case has highlighted the issue of heart screening, and it has been a good news story in the end. It has now made us aware that it is important for everyone of our academy players to go through this heart screening process.”