# My son's dreams are dashed and I'm devastated **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 9, 2012, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-sons-dreams-are-dashed-and-im-devastated/630969 "2012-08-09T15:54:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-sons-dreams-are-dashed-and-im-devastated/630969/21 "2012-08-10T03:46:27Z")
On the bright side this will probally save him from the draft if it’s ever reinstated. 😉 Granted that’s probally not much of a comfort if he’d also been planning on joining the military. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-sons-dreams-are-dashed-and-im-devastated/630969/22 "2012-08-10T03:51:05Z")
He’s 15. He’ll find a new dream. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-sons-dreams-are-dashed-and-im-devastated/630969/23 "2012-08-10T11:36:46Z")
> [@olivesmarch4th](#): > > I do not know if this will help, but lately while watching Olympics I’ve seen an advertisement for a hospital that treats the exact condition your son has. According to the commercial, there’s a procedure that might help him play sports. I wish I remembered what the name of the hospital was, but maybe some other Doper will remember. New York Presbyterian, I think? I don’t remember if it was an interventional procedure, or a scan that showed the risk was low. I’ve tried searching their YouTube channel but to no avail, but I do remember the ad you’re talking about and think it may be the same condition. ---
**Author:** ![BigDadWolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aeb1de/32.png) [@BigDadWolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigDadWolf)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-sons-dreams-are-dashed-and-im-devastated/630969/24 "2012-08-10T12:47:31Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > > [@olivesmarch4th](#): > > > > I do not know if this will help, but lately while watching Olympics I’ve seen an advertisement for a hospital that treats the exact condition your son has. According to the commercial, there’s a procedure that might help him play sports. I wish I remembered what the name of the hospital was, but maybe some other Doper will remember. > > New York Presbyterian, I think? I don’t remember if it was an interventional procedure, or a scan that showed the risk was low. I’ve tried searching their YouTube channel but to no avail, but I do remember the ad you’re talking about and think it may be the same condition. After an initial diagnosis and a second opinion with two local pediatric cardiologist, I had my son’s EKG and echocardiogram results reviewed by one of the top national specialists in adolescent HCM at the HCM Center at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School. He said there were no treatment options but discussed the heart MRI which could be the “scan that showed the risk was low” Ferret Herder mentions. His detailed and patient explanation on the triggers for sudden death indicates a lack of damage within the heart wall due to the thickening would indicate less risk and could allow him to play baseball in high school albeit with some limitations on his conditioning i.e. he wouldn’t be able to run multiple 40 yard sprints or lift heavy weights. Like many parents with a child who develops a serious condition I have become an “internet expert” on the condition and will continue to try to find out more not just so my son might be able to play the sports he loves but so the impact of this condition might be minimized throughout his life. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-sons-dreams-are-dashed-and-im-devastated/630969/25 "2012-08-10T12:51:07Z")
This is the point where you encourage other interests he might have. I’m sorry you folks got this news, but happy you found out before tragedy occurred. ---
**Author:** ![Sailboat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sailboat/32/461_2.png) [@Sailboat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sailboat)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-sons-dreams-are-dashed-and-im-devastated/630969/26 "2012-08-10T13:30:35Z")
What about coaching? If he has the ability, or can work on developing it, he can still be around sports and deeply involved. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2012, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-sons-dreams-are-dashed-and-im-devastated/630969/27 "2012-08-28T21:47:50Z")
How’s your son doing? Any updates? I happened to run into my friend whose son has this condition. As I said earlier, this boy was very athletic and switched to golf as a way to feed his competitive spirit. Both he and his dad took up golf together and both are enjoying it immensely. The dad especially enjoys being able to hang out with his son on the course. It’s been a great bonding experience for them and has made it easier for the son to deal with his condition. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-sons-dreams-are-dashed-and-im-devastated/630969.md?page=1)