Living with Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome

Sep 11, 2016 News

---

– Fitzroy Leitch Jr. is an inspiration to many

One can attest to the fact among the more satisfying moments in life is when we meet someone who is so courageous that he or she inspires something good in everyone they come in contact with.

Fitzroy Leitch Jr., a 20-year-old former student of the North Ruimveldt Secondary School, is indeed one such individual. His effect on other people has sparked the rarest kind of love; the love that causes others to venture to the ends of the Earth just to make him happy. And to put things in perspective, his existence has certainly not been a cakewalk.
You see, sometime back, Leitch was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.
This disease is defined on the Mayo Clinic’s website as follows:
“In Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome, an extra electrical pathway between your heart’s upper chambers (atria) and lower chambers (ventricles) causes a rapid heartbeat (tachycardia).
The extra electrical pathway is present at birth and fairly rare. WPW is detected in about 4 out of every 100,000 people. People of all ages, including infants, can experience the symptoms related to Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Most people with symptoms first experience them between the ages of 11 and 50.
The episodes of fast heartbeats usually aren’t life-threatening, but serious heart problems can occur. Treatment for Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome can stop or prevent episodes of fast heartbeats. A catheter-based procedure, known as ablation, can permanently correct the heart rhythm problems.”
Just recently, Leitch’s friends and former teachers of North Ruimveldt Secondary organised a fundraiser to assist him with his medical expenses. The cost of the surgery is over $2M and will be conducted at the Caribbean Heart Institute, Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.
Briefly introducing himself, the young man said that he was born to Fitzroy Leitch and Denise Knights, in Georgetown, on what he describes as a “moon bright night.”
Leitch considers himself lucky that he was raised by two considerate parents, with the aid of his six siblings.
He attended both the Nursery and Primary Schools of Enterprise in D’Urban Backlands where he was announced the best performing student at both institutions.
He subsequently wrote the Secondary Schools Entrance Examination (SSEE) and was awarded the North Ruimveldt Multilateral School, now the North Ruimveldt Secondary.
“I experienced my secondary life, debating and being actively involved in sports as well as excelling at academics in which I was the best performing student at the annual National Grade Nine exams. I was the second best graduating student at the CSEC exams attaining 8 Grade ones and two Grade twos. After which I went to St. Stanislaus College to complete the sixth form course.”
Leitch did two units and came out as the fifth best graduating student amongst a party of six, of which five were females.
He now works as a National Insurance Scheme (NIS) Officer and is actively involved in Scouting. He is a Master Guide and is a Seventh-day Adventist.

“IT REALLY TOOK ME BY SURPRISE”
Reflecting on his personal experience with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, Leitch noted that the disease produces a variety of experiences.
“Mine can spike beyond in simple situations which can lead to a cardiac arrest at the extreme, but minimally, palpitations. I also experience loss of consciousness, and severe chest pains. I have had many nights of pain, which has not been as prevalent as a few months ago. Although I wake up like two to three times per night, these days the pain isn’t a significant factor in the nights anymore.”
Leitch said when he was informed of about the syndrome, “it was kind of a shocker” to him, since he was always an active participant in sports for most of his life; participating and competing at national championships in athletics and national tournaments such as the Diamond Mineral Water Hockey Tournament and many others.
“It really took me by surprise. I must admit.”

Support 
“The support I got from family and friends was beyond what I thought would be…It’s been amazing the lengths to which they have gone to help my cause. My parents, though, are not completely accepting, because they believe God can work miracles. They have been on board too, through it all, and I’m thankful in every way for all the support I have gotten.”
Asked if he sees life differently now, Leitch said, “I see life way differently than before where I saw it…for what it is, and what God can do. Seeing how much people love you and what people can do, but not just that…how sudden things can happen. As the saying goes ‘tomorrow is not foreseen by anyone, so make hay while the sun shines’.”
Leitch says that he can now see how sudden situations can change, which can cause one to deviate from their mission. He encourages that despite people may be facing difficulties and setbacks in life, they must never lose sight and remain in the positive and righteous path.
“I wish to show young people that though situations in life may not favour you at times, where it may cause you to not be able to do the things you love the same anymore, you don’t have to be discouraged and sad, accept it as it is and keep on fighting, for God is near and He’s in charge, and as He says, He will not leave nor forsake us for there is hope.
Leitch said that it is because of this, he gets the strength to get up every day and spread the truth about faith and the same about God as a Theologian and Minister in Christ and an Entrepreneur in the Marketing and Finance Sector.

Surgery
“Well as it relates to the surgery, I’ve some consultation with Dr. Mahendra Carpen (Consultant Cardiologist at CHI) about the duration of my stay in the institution after the operation.  But there will be an ablation done, where they will aim to eliminate all the additional pathways existing.”
The young man said he is “not that much scared of the operation because I have been under the knife before”.
“I leave it in God’s hands and what happens after I honestly haven’t thought about that completely.”

---

---