SIUH and RUMC team up to provide free heart screenings at schools across the borough
Last month, Staten Island University Hospital and Richmond University Medical Center launched a collaborative effort to screen as many children as possible for heart conditions, according to Fran Reali, the founder of the Frank J. Reali III Foundation and owner of Safari Realty.
In light of the death of Miles Kirkland-Thomas due to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), the two hospitals will split the borough’s schools so they can conduct several screenings for young student-athletes.
Kirkland-Thomas, 16, who stood 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighed 295 pounds, collapsed during football practice last month.
HCM is a genetic disorder that causes the heart to be thick or stiff and can lead to arrhythmias, which can cause cardiac arrest, according to Lisa Salberg, the founder and CEO of the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association. HCM affects one in 500 people.
In 2007, Ms. Reali’s 36-year-old son, Frank, died suddenly of HCM. The family launched the foundation in his honor and provides free heart screenings for student- athletes around the borough.
“The goal is to save parents the grief of losing a child,” Ms. Reali said. “We’ve tested over 400 kids and saved many children’s lives.”
The organization is slated to conduct theses screenings for freshman student-athletes at St. Peter’s, Staten Island Academy and St. Joseph Hill Academy this month, she said.
Ms. Reali is hosting the foundation’s Sixth Annual Memorial Dinner Monday, Oct. 20 at LiGreci’s Staaten to raise money and awareness for the cause. Click here for more information about the event.
A young woman who benefited greatly from one of the screenings is expected to speak about her experience at the dinner, Ms. Reali said.
“The more money we raise, the more kids we can test,” she said.