As we find out more about what took Caleb’s life, we wondered what we could have done, and how things could have been different. We know there is no way we could have known he had a heart disease because he was asymptomatic, as are a lot of people with ALVC. He never complained of chest pains, and never passed out during sports. He was an active and healthy teenage boy.

We also asked ourselves what we would have done differently if we had known about his condition. We definitely would have stopped him from playing football and basketball, 2 of his favorite things to do. It is hard to imagine Caleb not being able to do any of that. But of course we would rather have him still with us.

Each time we read about a young person dying of sudden cardiac death (SCD), it’s usually an athlete and the articles usually bring up the need for heart testing for athletes. There are places that offer these tests for free now and that is what I’d like to raise awareness about.

Read this article: Should High School Athletes get Preseason Cardiac Screenings

Summary – 

“The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)—using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)—estimates that about 2,000 individuals younger than age 25 die each year of sudden cardiac arrest in the United States.” 

Many of these deaths could have been prevented if these athletes had known they have a pre-existing heart condition.

Free Heart Checks

There are hospitals that offer heart checks for free. An example is Corewell Health in Michigan.

Link here – Student Heart Check in Southeast Michigan

If you are a parent or educator, you may want to discuss with your school’s athletic department the possibility of organizing heart checks for your students.

What the checks do is usually run an EKG that can pick up abnormal heart rhythms. If there is any abnormality, they will refer you to a specialist for further testing that can detect heart issues more accurately.