A Murmur That Changed Everything
When I think of my son Chris, I think of strength, resilience, and an incredible zest for life. Today, at 19, he is preparing to begin his studies at NWU Potchefstroom — a confident young man with big dreams. But his journey began with a single, unexpected sound.
At just 12 weeks old, during what was meant to be a routine check-up, the doctor heard a heart murmur. That one moment led us into a world of specialists, tests, and uncertainty. Chris was diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy — a condition where the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick, making it harder for blood to flow properly.
As part of the investigation, both his dad and I were tested. That’s when we discovered that Chris’s father also had HCM — a condition he had unknowingly lived with his entire life. His heart muscle was significantly enlarged, and when Chris was only nine years old, we tragically lost him to a heart attack. The grief was overwhelming, and it cast a long shadow over Chris’s own diagnosis.
Sometimes the smallest sound — a murmur — can change a family’s life forever, calling them into a journey they never expected to walk.
Surgery, Strength, and Choosing Hope
Between the ages of one and two, Chris stopped breathing eight times. Those episodes were terrifying, and at just two years old, he underwent his first open-heart surgery to remove the blockage caused by the thickened heart muscle. Watching your baby endure machines, tubes, and scars is something no parent can truly prepare for. We prayed it would be his first and last surgery.
But at 14, the blockage returned. Complications from the initial repair meant Chris needed another major operation to create a new pathway for blood flow. This time, he understood what was happening — and faced it with remarkable courage.
At 16, he received a pacemaker to protect him from sudden cardiac events. Making that decision was incredibly difficult, but doctors described it as an insurance policy for his life. We chose safety. We chose hope.
Today, Chris manages his condition with one daily medication and by listening carefully to his body. He avoids high-intensity sport but has found strength and confidence in weight training at the gym. He finished school last year and is excited to pursue a BSc in Microbiology and Biochemistry — determined to one day contribute meaningfully to the pharmaceutical world.
He carries his dad’s sharp humour and lights up every room he enters. Chris has taught me that our children are stronger than we imagine. With love, support, and the right medical care, they can live full, beautiful, purposeful lives — never defined by their diagnosis, but strengthened by their journey.
Debbie Radley
