SADLY WRITING: THE HISTORY OF CARDIAC RELATED DISEASES, GRIEVING FOOTBALL, EARLY RETIREMENT AND DEATH

You do remember Ryan Higgins; 24 and who was a football bulldozer at National League side Torquay United before his entire world took the downward slope.

Having watched his sister collapse under the full weight of a heart attack; needing defibrillation at least twelve times and an emergency surgery in hopes of survival, Higgins now discloses to the world his shock when diagnosed of same illness, four months after his sister’s battle. 

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD) has a history of resultant massive death rate. Spain’s international Sportsman; Antonio Puerta in the year 2008 collapsed on the pitch while playing for Sevilla and lost his life after a failed attempt on rigorous medical intervention as a result of the same illness. You do remember that England Batsman; James Taylor retired two years ago for the same reason.

When the diagnosis came, it meant Higgins had to give up his life-long career; a job he loved like life itself. Ryan admits he encountered some sort of dilemma upon receiving the diagnosis, especially because he had never suffered symptoms, and he was known to pass all medicals with flying colours. Ryan thought he had taken all necessary precautions to ensure he was healthy, but realised sometimes, illness can sneak up on you and bite you right in the butt even while on guard.

“It would be a Fabrice Muamba situation” Higgins told BBC radio Devon, whilst describing what might have happened. “He was lucky to be brought back and I might not have had that luck. To catch it the way we caught it is what I need to take as a positive.”

You do remember how in the year 2012, former England under twenty-one (21) midfielder collapsed whilst playing for Bolton at Tottenham in an FA cup tie. The game was abandoned, and Muamba fought endlessly for his life alongside a great medical team and proximity to a top ranking Cardiac Hospital.

Higgins went on to disclose how rare his brand of the condition was, stating that it took his Doctors a little over four months to make a diagnosis, stating that his symptoms mimic the heart rate of ‘Elite Athletic’, making a quick pick-up very unlikely and crowning this feat as deadly.

“That’s the most painful part; going four months not knowing what’s wrong. And until this day, I am yet to get any symptoms. But the doctors are the experts and they’ve diagnosed me. They say I will have a heart attack if I keep playing, and that’s not a risk you take in any field no matter what you do.” Higgins added.

Higgins is only 24, and has been forced to label his past glory as the peak of his career. He admits in this interview that he is finding it difficult to stop the hurt.

“It’s like a grieving state. It’s like losing somebody you love. Football is all I’ve known since I was a baby. As soon as I was born I had a ball. I’m currently the biggest Liverpool fan, but I still feel like I lost someone, but it just happens to be football. ”