Holyoke High holds cardiac screenings for teens

HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) - Cardiac risks and teenagers, four words that you don't expect to find together. But one foundation is spearheading an awareness campaign that may surprise you as heart problems among teens are becoming a growing concern.

Cynthia Gray’s youngest son Jonathan, once a UMass freshman and top athlete, died from sudden cardiac arrest last January while exercising on his rowing machine.

“I went down to call him for supper, his brother and I found him, did CPR and at first I was like ‘oh my God this can't be happening’,” said Gray.

On Saturday Jonathan's, or as his friends called him Jonno, story resonated with dozens of students looking to get free cardiac screenings at Holyoke High School.

“The CDC says 5,000 young people between the ages of 15-34 die annually of sudden cardiac arrest,” said president of the Chad Foundation, Arista Burtrum, of the disease’s growing prevalence.  Her non-profit’s is mission to raise awareness on the sudden cardiac death of young athletes. 

Burtrum joined a team of doctors and nurses from the Holyoke Medical Center and screened teenagers for many pre-cursors to heart disease, among them cholesterol and diabetes.

The event is one of hundreds of screening programs under the umbrella of " The Chad Foundation Cardiovascular Screening Program," which has provided 5,500 free echocardiograms in five states; one of those being Massachusetts. 

“For us it hit home in January, where we wanted to right away rush out and do another screening.  And we are going to screen 100 kids today,” said Melanie Martin, Jonathan’s high school athletic trainer on Saturday afternoon. 

What's different about the screenings provided by the Chad Foundation is the use of echocardiogram machines, a diagnostic tool which provides a glimpse into someone's heart; like a live sonogram of a heart's blood flow or indications of muscular abnormalities.

“It's a quick a way of taking a quick assessment of the structure and function of the heart.  And look for some key indicators that suggest working up the patient further and doing a more comprehensive examination in the hospital,” said cardiovascular ultrasound specialist for Phillips, Chris Stevens. 

And it was this type of screening that saved the life of Jonathan's brother, Mackenzie.  Gray says doctors found a hole in his heart the size of a nickel, following a screening after his Jonathan’s death.  “Jonathan had obviously big plans for his brother and that is what we take big comfort in,” said Gray of her sons. 

Gray told 22News she’s working on donating a defibrillator, a common treatment for life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmias,to Holyoke High School in the near future. 

To learn more about the Chad Foundation click here .