OUR MISSION
To spare parents the grief of the loss of a child due to Sudden Cardiac Death. Long term, The Foundation envisions that their free screenings will become part of the mandatory physical in all schools.
To accomplish our mission, we are committed to:
- Tell our profound story as a life-lesson for others.
- Work with schools and hospitals to provide free heart baseline testing for children.
Our Core Objective
A CNN study done in 2007 revealed that 400,000 males and females aged 40 and under were killed by sudden cardiac death. Our goals involve stopping this trend long before today’s children reach age 40.
We feel that the schools are not going far enough. Although physical examination including cardiac auscultation is already required of students participating in team sports under the auspices of the NYC Public School Athletic League, this approach could miss cardiac abnormalities that can predispose to sudden cardiac death.
Our core objective is to promote the use of electrocardiograms and screening echocardiograms. Their results will enable physicians to detect rhythm disturbances of the heart, as well as abnormalities of size, thickness, and function of the left ventricle, aortic valve, and aorta.
The presence of these conditions could result in catastrophic clinical deterioration caused by severe exertion associated with competitive sports.
Participation in the above program will be entirely optional and will be at no cost to those who elect to participate.
The Foundation
The inspiration for our foundation was born when our dear son, Frank, died suddenly of an undiagnosed cardiac disease. His story is a beacon that guides this organization and has shined light on the preventable problem of sudden cardiac deaths.
The pilot programs and events of the Protecting One Young Heart At A Time Foundation on Staten Island, NY, have attracted much attention and support, both financial and services oriented. Hopefully, it will serve as a model for the establishment of similar programs throughout all local high schools.
We have had seventeen successful fundraisers since our foundations launch. Our first fundraiser enabled us to embark on our first testing facility for incoming high school freshmen. Twenty hospitals (which includes Staten Island University Hospital, Richmond University Medical Center and Kiwanis International) and many physicians have partnered with us to offer echocardiogram and electrocardiogram testing to the young men and women contemplating sports. In one small study of 600 children at Schneider’s Children Hospital, a heart problem was revealed in 3 out of every 100 children tested.
We plan the concurrent development of educational programs for students, parents, and primary care physicians to familiarize them with the signs and symptoms of cardiac disease and the benefits of screening.
Our goal is to take this borough-wide, citywide, statewide, then nationwide. Please contact us for details of our program and how you might help.
Every gift or donation will help us fulfill our goal – To Spare Parents The Grief Of The Loss Of A Child Due To Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD).