LIFE CHANGING INJURY By Peter Argent

[Aerie]

This from the Eagles website:

LIFE CHANGING INJURY

By Peter Argent

Young Eagles talent Brodie Lomas received news at the start of this season which would be shattering for any talented young footballer. After the euphoria of achieving a childhood dream of playing SANFL league football last year and being recalled for the club’s last three finals, Lomas has dealt with a number of set backs this year, but still has a positive attitude.

As a 20-year-old he made his SANFL league debut as a half forward against Port Adelaide in Round 15 last year and ultimately was a member of the Eagles grand final loss to Central District.

In March this year Lomas was given a life changing diagnosis after blacking out while driving his car before the start of the season. On the way home from his employment as an electrician, Lomas passed out while driving down Hanson Road. He crashed into a car and woke up disorientated.

Having irregular ECG readings in the ambulance on the way to hospital, Lomas spent the next couple of day going through a myriad of tests. Medical experts then told him that he had a heart condition called “Long QT Syndrome”. This condition makes Lomas’ heart predisposed to go into irregular rhythms, not allowing enough blood to be pumped into his body.

To rectify this problem, Lomas who lives in Seaton, had a defibrillator implanted next to the heart. This instrument can take over the control of his heartbeat from the brain – with wires running through the veins of his heart.

Originally from the rural township of Clare in this famous wine district, he started playing with the South Clare Demons as a six-year-old, progressing through the club’s junior grades, before trying his luck at Woodville Oval in 2001. This will be Lomas’ sixth season in the Woodville-West Torrens tri-colours. He progressed through the Under 17s, Under 19s and Reserves, before getting his opportunity at the top level during last year.

“Brodie is a ‘in and under’ player with good speed and is a strong, extremely efficient tackler,” senior coach at Woodville-West Torrens, Ron Fuller said.

“He has a good natural defensive mechanism in his game and presents himself well ‘front and centre’ at the marking contest. There is no doubt he is a young man with a lot of character.”

Having been back on the training track for a couple of weeks, Lomas never totally gave up hope of returning, even when he was initially told that he would not be able to go back to contact sports.

“I’ve returned on a restrictive program and have the full support of the doctors, whichever choice I take,” Lomas said.

Let’s hope this courageous young man adds to his seven-match tally of League games with the Eagles.

[JK]

Best of luck to the lad, sounds as though he has shown plenty of character and spirit and I seriously hope for his sake that his body stays healthy and he's able to continue pursuing his dream in relative safety!!

[westies sarge]

good on the young fella (although he is older than me) but to try and get back is a good thing..

[Aerie]

Lomas has his heart in club

ZAC MILBANK

August 03, 2006 11:30pm
Article from: The Advertiser


BRODIE Lomas is back.
Just three months since being told he would never play football again, the little man with a big heart is set to make a stunning comeback.

Despite being diagnosed with the heart condition Long QT Syndrome, Lomas will pull on the Woodville-West Torrens guernsey on Sunday for the first time since the 2005 SANFL grand final.

"It means a lot, I've been out of the game for a while," Lomas, 21, said.

"It means so much to me to prove to myself that even though I've got this (Long QT Syndrome) I can still do it. Nothing will hold me back."

Lomas, believed to be the first footballer to play with the condition, will wear a guard over his chest to protect the Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator that has been inserted into his chest to monitor and maintain his heartbeat.

For anybody else it might be a big deal but not Lomas, who likens his ailment to a customary ankle sprain.

"If you rolled your ankle you'd get it taped, so if you have a defibrillator you get it covered," Lomas, 178 cm and 77 kg, said. "It does give me confidence, to know the defibrillator which is just sitting there, has some protection."

Lomas and the club investigated the possibility of him wearing a heart monitor during games but were warned it could interfere with the ICD.

Eagles general manager John Kantilaftas said while Lomas would not be covered by insurance, the club was satisfied with the medical advice it had received on the risks of playing with an ICD.

"No insurance will cover Brodie for his special condition but he understands this and has signed a waiver," Kantilaftas said. "We have had a great deal of input from medical specialists who advised us of the minimal risk of anything happening to Brodie on the field.

"He's wearing the guard and unless someone can produce a force substantially greater than a human being, it won't damage the defibrillator."

Regardless, Lomas said he would be taking no risks on the field if he felt his heart beginning to beat abnormally.

"If my heart starts racing or I feel faint or it's too much for me then I've got to read my body and have a bit of a break," said Lomas, who may play only half in the reserves against South Adelaide.

"So if I don't feel right I'll be coming off but the doctors are very confident that everything will be fine."

So is Lomas, to the extent he hasn't ruled out making a return to playing a role in the Eagles' premiership campaign.

"For sure, if my form is good enough and warrants selection in the league team," Lomas said. "I'm sure Ron (Fuller) has faith in me to do the job and fill any role he needs. I'll just take it week by week, but who knows, anything is possible."

After witnessing Lomas' brave bid to return to action, Kantilaftas can certainly attest to that statement.

"Brodie's been through an enormous amount in trying to play league football just with his size and stature," Kantilaftas said.

[Aerie]

Good luck to him on Sunday. A great story to be able to get back playing footy so soon.

[rod_rooster]

Great story. Best of luck to him.

[RoosterMarty]

Pretty gutsy stuff to come back from a serious injury. Hopefully everything goes well for him at beautiful Noarlunga.

[Rik E Boy]

All the best Brodie Lomas. The heart might have an irregular beat, but it is a large one.

regards,

REB

[MightyEagles]

Hope he plays well and plays in the finals.

[Wedgie]

Brodie played a good game in a 67 point win to the Eagles ressies today, here's some pics of him:

[Aerie]

Lomas has been named in the forward pocket for his first league game this year. Great effort and good luck!

[sus]

Talk about highs and lows! From in essence risking serious injury or his life in a car accident to then being told about his condition and never playing footy again. Got over that hurdle by playing reserves after a long rehab but then he's promoted to league. First league game back he gets BOG - unbelievable. But that's not all, (I feel like Im in a SANFL commercial here ) he gets SANFL Player of the Week.

An incredible turn of events - isnt life an amazing thing? Never know whats in store!

[MatteeG]

Truly great stuff!!

[spell_check]

Watching him play on Sunday - you just wouldn't have known it was someone who has been through that.

[Wedgie]

Great to see the Advertiser rewarded him with the Player of the Week award:

Perfect timing for Lomas

ZAC MILBANK




FOR Brodie Lomas, the 2006 season is only just beginning.
Having spent the majority of the year battling the heart condition Long QT Syndrome, Lomas made his league return in explosive fashion on Sunday.

Despite playing only three reserves games in the lead up to the clash with Port Adelaide at Woodville, Lomas showed his doubters that his best is more than good enough.

"I was just thankful I got an opportunity so I wanted to make the most of it," Lomas, 21, said.

"I know how lucky I am to even have the opportunity to play let alone a game of league footy, so I wanted to make sure I grabbed it with both hands."

The tenacious rover certainly achieved this as he stacked up 29 disposals and kicked a game-high four goals in an effort deserving of The Advertiser Player of the Week.

Amid blustery conditions at Oval Avenue, Lomas was one of the few players to be clean with his ball handling on a consistent basis.

"I was happy with it. The breeze made it difficult at times," Lomas, 175cm and 74kg, said. "Everything went well on the day to be honest. I just go out and do my role and that's (performing well) just what happened."

But it wasn't just Lomas's offensive moves which caught the judge's eye, his ability to regularly apply tackles also impressed his coach Ron Fuller. And Lomas knows doing the "one percenters" will go a long way toward his retention in the 21 as the finals approach.

"I'm not afraid to tackle. That's definitely in my mind," Lomas, an apprentice electrician, said. "If that's what it takes I'll do it because it's competitive (for selection) at the moment - and that's what we want. I certainly won't be resting on my laurels and taking it easy.

"I'll be pushing for better this week and to improve on that. It has always been my aim to get back into the league side as quickly as I could and I definitely want to play finals in the league team. It would mean a lot to be a part of it this year after everything that has happened."