In December 2017, Drew Beckie was in Finland to train with a top circuit soccer team who he had a tentative playing contract with. While visiting friends in Sweden one weekend, Drew was struck by Viral Myocarditis. After being hospitalized in Sweden for two weeks, he was told that he would probably not be allowed to play again as his heart was not strong enough to sustain any sort of workload.
After returning to his home in Jacksonville, Florida, he reached out to his physician who researched and found the Myocarditis Foundation. His physician spoke with the Executive Director of the Foundation, who was able to put him in contact with Dr. Leslie Cooper. Dr. Cooper is a world-renowned specialist on Myocarditis, located right there in Jacksonville, Florida. Dr. Cooper consulted on his case and the rest is history. Drew is back playing soccer for the El Paso Locomotive FC team and couldn’t be happier. He hopes that his story can help others in similar situations while they are battling to come back from this or another disease to something that they love to do.
Please watch his video documentary about his journey back and catch some of the Myocarditis Foundation Board members speak about the disease.
