For NAIDOC Week 2017, we’re shining a light on Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD), a preventable disease which mainly affects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in remote communities.

RCH patient Liddywoo shared his journey living with RHD for Take Heart, a film exploring how we can prevent more children being struck down with the disease.

At eight years of age, Liddywoo flew from Darwin to the RCH in Melbourne for his first open heart surgery. By aged nine, he had his second open heart surgery when three of his cardiac valves had to be repaired. Then, at 14 years old he had his third open heart surgery, which he shared through Take Heart.

RHD starts in children as a common sore throat and possibly skin sores. In Liddywoo’s case it ended in open heart surgery, but it can also end in heart failure, stroke or even death.

Associate Professor Andrew Steer, an RCH paediatrician who features in the film, says if the disease is not recognised early and preventative measures are not put in place, then that person will need to have cardiac surgery.

“RHD is a devastating disease. Yet, it is preventable. We hope that our research into RHD will lead to new methods to control the disease in the future, but there is a lot more that we can do in Australia right now to reduce the burden of RHD in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.”

Watch part of Liddywoo’s journey here. 

To learn more about RHD, visit the Take Heart website.