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  by OliviasMom |

  Aug 08, 2008(2 months ago) |

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  Overall Rating: 5.0 |

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  I am the mom of Olivia Corinne Hoff. My daughter was only 14 years old when she passed away, April 22, 2004. Olivia was born with Longated QT Syndrome, but we never knew. My daughter started having all symptoms associated with this disease. Olivia would complain of feeling faint after PE in school. She would also complain to her teachers that she felt weak. She would come home and tell me that she felt weak. I would have her take a nap, get some rest, thinking she had just worked too hard at school. Her symptoms got worse the last two weeks of her life. She was experiencing left arm pain, severe headaches and chest pains. I made an appointment to have my daughter seen by her doctor. He told both Olivia and I that her condition was due to stress; as she was a new Freshman in High School and more homework, etc. I questioned him about the pain in her chest and left arm. He then asked Olivia if she had fallen down at school and hurt her arm or chest? My daughter's answer was no. He then recommended rest and that she should be okay. As I look back now, I should have requested an EKG/ECG but I didn't because I was unaware, uneducated about LQTS and sudden cardiac arrest in young adults. Not a day goes by that I don't cry because I miss my daughter so much. I have so many "If only", "What if". I cannot bring my daughter back but H.R. 4926 can and will save the lives of many young adults. The House as passed this bill so why does the Senate have to prolong their decision? What are the problems they are having? I have shared my personal heartbreaking story because I know there are many, many other parents who have lost their children to this same condition. Our pain will never go away but we can and will continue to work towards making Senators, Representatives, Committees aware of this very serious situation and do all we can to honor our childrens memory, as this is all we have, memories. Olivia's death will not be in vain. I am her voice now.
  
  Thank you,
  Corinne Ruiz, Olivia's mom

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