SAN ANTONIO – After several recent deaths involving Texas high school football players, a San Antonio nonprofit is reminding parents that hidden heart conditions can affect any teen.
Stevens High School player Jaren Lawson died in February from a symptomless heart condition. This month, a Lake Travis player died after a medical emergency at practice. His exact cause of death is still pending.
The August Heart Foundation has spent 15 years providing free heart screenings for local teens. The organization was founded by Dore Koontz and her family after her son, August, died suddenly in 2008 at age 18.
Koontz described August as “amazing, fun, witty” and “very energetic,” with lots of friends. His family had no warning that he had a heart condition.
“No, that’s the scariest thing about this whole situation,” Koontz said. “He was super active. He played sports, he worked out in between sports.”
August died from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition that causes thickening of the heart muscle. Koontz said the condition can make it harder for electrical impulses to move through the heart.
“There are no symptoms except for sudden cardiac arrest,” she said.
Through its free screenings, the August Heart Foundation has performed more than 104,000 electrocardiograms, or ECGs, and has detected almost 450 children with symptomless, life-threatening heart conditions.
Koontz said the screenings are possible because of volunteer doctors and community support.
“We are so lucky to have the doctors that volunteer,” she said. “Everything’s for free, and then if the doctors, if there’s an issue, then we will help facilitate.”
The foundation’s most recent screening was held during a back-to-school day event at the Frost Bank Center. Koontz said one child was identified with what she believed was Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, a heart rhythm condition.
“Just finding that one child was worth all of it,” she said.
Koontz said her biggest message is for parents whose children are not in sports. While many student-athletes undergo physicals and screenings, she said non-athletes can be missed.
“We want everybody tested because it’s not just athletes that get this screening,” Koontz said. “It’s girls, boys and the school districts don’t require the non-athletic students to get it.”
She said August did not die on a football field. He died in his sleep.
“It’s less than five minutes, it’s painless, it’s free, and it’s so important to get your teens screened,” Koontz said.
Koontz said treatments are available for many of these heart conditions when they are detected early, allowing children to continue living active lives.
“It does save lives,” Koontz said.
Any group or school district interested in hosting a screening event can contact the August Heart Foundation by calling 210-267-2771 or emailing info@augustheart.org.
The organization also has its main fundraising event coming up in October, and donations can be made through its website.
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