Cause of death known for Yreka runner

By Maghan Hunt
Published Wednesday, November 4, 2009

The cause of death for the Yreka runner who collapsed at West Valley High School has been discovered.

According to Stacey Willison, the mother of 16-year old Chris Lopez, the doctors at Mercy Medical Center's Intensive Care Unit told her he collapsed due to a virus of the heart. The doctor went on to explain that every time Lopez practiced or ran a race it damaged his heart a little more, and possibly spread to his lungs, causing his heart to fail sending him into possible cardiac arrest.

"He wasn't sick, he didn't have a fever," said Willison of her son's health before he died. "When he would first go to bed he would cough and after a race he would cough a little, but it wasn't all the time. I thought it was strange and took him to the doctor."

An Yreka doctor prescribed Lopez a medication for asthma, however he was not an asthma sufferer. Lopez does have a twin brother, Brian Lopez, who does have asthma and Willison believes the doctor confused the two and misdiagnosed him.

"Chris's twin brother Brian has asthma, but Chris never had asthma," said Willison. "Chris only saw this doctor when his regular doctor was not available. From what I can determine from the Yreka doctor's notes, he disregarded everything I said."

According to Willison, it was mentioned to her Lopez may have had myocarditis, which is a virus of the heart and could have lead to her son's death.

According to the Mayo Health Clinic's website "myocarditis is an inflammation of the myocardium, the middle layer of the heart wall." It is an uncommon condition and can cause a variety of signs and symptoms, such as chest pain and abnormal heart rhythms.

"If myocarditis becomes severe, the pumping action of your heart weakens, and your heart won't be able to supply the rest of your body with enough blood. Clots also could form in your heart, leading to a stroke or heart attack," states the Mayo Health Clinics website. The website also says myocarditis is generally caused by a viral infection and the treatment depends on the cause.

Symptoms for myocarditis include chest pain that may feel like a heart attack or angina, a rapid or abnormal heartbeat, shortness of breath during rest or physical activity, fatigue, fluid retention which causes selling of the legs, ankles, and feet. Less common symptoms include fainting or sudden loss of consciousness, headache, body aches, joint pain, fever, a sore throat, or diarrhea.

Causes of myocarditis are viruses like the common cold, flu, gastrointestinal infections, mononucleosis (mono), and measles. Bacteria like Staphylococcus (Staph) and Lyme disease can cause it, and according to the Mayo Health Clinic "myocarditis occurs in more than one-fourth of all people with the bacterial infection diphtheria." Parasites, fungi, and mold, arsenic, medications that cause an allergic or toxic reaction are other possible less common contributors.