In the fall of 1994, Andrea Jones-Pascoe’s life was saved after Pam Husband went public with
her story about the tragic loss of her son Greg. This courageous act led to Andrea’s diagnosis of
Long QT Syndrome (LQTS) following a series of fainting spells and two near drownings. At the
age of 11, Andrea had a pacemaker implanted. Her mothers subsequent role as a founding board
member of the Canadian SADS Foundation in 1995 has significantly influenced Andreas life,
emphasizing the importance of advocacy and early diagnosis.
Thanks to early diagnosis and treatment, Andrea has been able to lead a normal life for nearly 30
years. She is blessed with two beautiful sons, Gavin, born in 2013, and Elliot, born in 2020.
After Gavins birth, genetic testing revealed Andrea did not have LQTS, but was instead
diagnosed with CPVT (Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia) upon the
discovery of the mutated gene. Fortunately, Gavin tested negative for the condition. However,
when Elliot was tested at birth, his results came back positive for CPVT.
Becoming a mother to a child with CPVT has profoundly shaped Andrea’s perspective. It has
deepened her understanding of the challenges faced by families dealing with inherited
arrhythmias and heightened her commitment to advocating for increased awareness and support
for these sometimes devastating diseases. She has become more vigilant about managing health
risks and is passionate about ensuring a supportive environment for her son and others with
similar conditions.
Andrea grew up in Guelph, Ontario, and has lived in North Bay, Ontario, for the past 16 years.
She and her husband, Nathan, enjoy raising their boys in this beautiful northern community. As a
hockey mom, baseball mom, and now a soccer mom, Andrea is deeply involved in her sons
activities, finding joy and fulfillment in supporting their passions.
Professionally, Andrea serves as the Executive Assistant to the Vice President at Canadore
College in North Bay. Her career includes experience as a successful business owner and board
member of several non-profit organizations. She has a talent for planning and hosting events,
which has enabled her to contribute to various community and charitable initiatives.
With a personal connection to the mission of the Canadian SADS Foundation and a wealth of
experience in both professional and volunteer roles, Andrea is excited about the opportunity to
serve on the board. She aims to contribute to raising awareness and providing support for those
affected by sudden arrhythmia death syndromes.
Although I was able to return to work three weeks after my initial cardiac arrest in the Spring of 1999 and was able to continue in full-time practice through 2022, my own LQTS journey was not without incident. An ICD lead failure lead to two other cardiac surgeries in 2001. Many years later, in 2018, I began to experience shortness of breath with mild exertion and it was discovered that the ICD leads, including one failed lead that had not been removed, had significantly damaged my tricuspid valve. That required open heart surgery to both remove the leads and put in a prosthetic tricuspid valve. A number of days following that surgery I had a second cardiac arrest, although I was advised it was not directly caused by my LQTS condition.
I have shared my story in numerous forums over the years, understanding the importance of awareness regarding SADS conditions, including LQTS. I am hopeful that this may, in some small way, indirectly contribute to heightening awareness and assisting in the diagnosis and treatment of other individuals with Long QT Syndrome or related conditions.