Our Latest Release
'A Heavy Heart', a severe yet strong narrative battling a rare, genetic, life-threatening heart condition.
Our newest documentary follows the lifestyle of Graham Harper, a middle-aged, middle-class man diagnosed with Type 1 Brugada Syndrome. We get an insight into Graham's home life, through conversing with his son, as well as interviewing Dr Ideh, a cardiology specialist at Barts Hospital who informs us about Graham's condition in great detail.
Graham's Story
A speech Graham made in association with Boston Scientific in 2017
"I am a 44 year old married father of 2. I love going to the theatre. I love music. I love my allotment. I'm a fan of Arsenal Football Club. Pause. Allow people to leave the room and then continue. I love to socialise with my friends and family and I have a very positive life. But also, I have Brugada Syndrome."
"To give you some background, my story starts in August 2012. I had just turned turned 40. So this is one of those moments in your life when you're really looking for that reassurance that you're not getting old. You've got a full head of hair. You're not going grey. You can still run up the stairs without getting out of breath. But what you really don't wanna have is somebody coming to you and saying that you're unwell or that there's something wrong with you."
"It's a routine health check, where they do blood tests, they check your eyesight, they check your lungs. But the final test they do is the ECG test, the opportunity for doctors to find the hairiest parts on your chest, put a sticker on them and get their own satisfaction when they pull them off. A straight-forward situation."
"The doctor turns to me and says 'You feel alright?' 'Yes John I feel absolutely fine!' '...because it looks like you're having a heart attack!'
PRODUCTION UNDER COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS
With the majority of the filming taking place in Graham's humble home, not to mention his extravagant garden, we were able to capture this documentary in the places which Graham feels the most safe, whilst also abiding to the regulations enforced across the UK in these uncertain times.
"Heart conditions are not just for the elderly"
Despite Brugada Syndrome most commonly affecting people over the age of 40, many younger people can also be affected by this condition and many other heart diseases. Considering that Brugada Syndrome is a genetic condition, Dr Ideh explains the risks of Graham's family members potentially also carrying the condition. To date, only Graham's mother has been affected, but Graham's son Samuel isn't safe yet.
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Although Sam has been tested several times for this condition, through ECG's and the Ajmaline test, one can develop Burgada Syndrome at any age and therefore, Sam has yearly checkups at Barts Hospital in London to check whether the condition has developed.
How a vegetarian lifestyle can improve your health
Inspired by his son, Graham has been exploring vegetarianism in an effort to improve his diet since his diagnosis. Graham reflects on how he feels 'much cleaner' now that he is not eating meat, however to maintain his health and ensure that he is getting enough protein, Graham plans to become a pescatarian within the next month in order to get his protein through fish.
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Graham's son however maintains a vegan diet, something that he has been sustaining for just over a year. Whilst Graham has changed his diet for reasons regarding his health, Samuel has changed his diet in support of animal welfare, something he feels rather strongly about:
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'I've realised there's no logical reason to care about some animals and eat others'
How alcohol affects the diet
How Graham's alcohol intake has changed since his diagnosis and how Sam has taken this into consideration.
Post-diagnosis, Graham made significant changes to his lifestyle by altering his diet and alcohol intake in order to maintain a healthier lifestyle and excessive drinking can be extremely damaging for one's cardiovascular system. Although, Graham hasn't stopped drinking alcohol altogether, claiming that he's 'not going to let this condition take over (his) life'.
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Sam acknowledges this risk and has already started altering his alcohol intake for his own protection. It is suggested that younger people stay away from alcohol as their bodies are still growing and excessive drinking can interfere with their development. However, this doesn't stop young people from consuming alcohol, with over 67% of pupils across England consuming alcohol excessively. But are they aware of the risks?
