Fund in Memory of Wendy Ellen Wesala Dwyer

I am a forty one year old survivor of LQTS-type 2. I was diagnosed when I was about 13. Back then, they treated us with Dilantin and all sorts of other beta-blockers. It was a fairly new discovery as they thought most kids that passed out with LQTS had Epilepsy. The beta- blockers normally given to an epileptic helped those with LQTS so no one knew the better. My doctors were very understanding in my need to be a "normal" kid and allowed me to participate in as many activities as I wanted with one rule...If I got tired I had to stop. I learned to get along with out track but volleyball and softball were my favorites. As a matter of fact I even received a college scholarship for my volleyball skills and played for two years. I have been truly blessed that I have not only survived four episodes without any medical need to be recessitated but I also survived one cardiac arrest on August 14th, 2010 (one day after Friday the 13th). I wasn't taking my meds as prescribed and I had passed out at work that Friday and was immediately taken to the hospital. Because I fell like a tree and hit the concrete floor head first, I had a soccer ball sized lump on my head so they kept me for observation. It was the next morning that the blood pressure cuff went off and startled me and my heart went nuts. I flat lined and was shocked back into a normal rythmn. I was discharged from the hospital 4 days after a lovely stay in ICU and 1 day in step down. I was discharged without an ICD though. The thought was that I had gone 27 years without an episode so I should be alright. That wasn't good enough for me. I spent several months meeting with doctors (4 in total) until finally someone recommended that I see Dr. Ackerman at Mayo. It was like meeting Santa Claus!! We talked for a few hours and determined an ICD would do the trick. We both agreed that increasing my meds and with some luck, I would never need my ICD but just in case, my little buddy would be with me if I needed him.

I have two beautiful daughters who also have LQTS-2, my father who is approaching 70 and a brother that recently passed away from LQTS-2. Not because he didn't know about it but because he wasn't educated on the importance of taking his meds daily and as prescribed. It only took that one time and he is now gone forever. I have been blessed in so many ways, my daughters, my friends, my family, and ironically my health. I survived all of my episodes and for the most part live a "normal life" playing flag football, softball, volleyball, wallyball, ultimate frisbee oh yeah and working :) I wish my brother would have paid attention to the warning God gave him through me. I was very much a pebble that God threw to get my brothers attention. I hope anyone reading this learns from my mistakes. I hope that my brother is watching down on us and making sure those silly ions charge like they should. God Bless the LQTS Community and all they have done.