I can easily take myself back to that moment that afternoon sitting waiting for my daughter at her high school. I saw the Athletic Director ride by on his cart, and it didn’t look like a normal day. People started running towards the football field. I knew there was a Physical Education class that was going on so I was hoping someone was minorly hurt and that it was something easy like a sprain. The franticness of the people running was telling me that it wasn’t something minor. Then the ambulance arrived and my heart sank. Who was having an emergency? I was praying in my car that whoever it was that they were okay. I was a nervous mom and so thankful to see all the helpers arriving. Look for the helpers.
I had so many people ask me if I was worried about my daughter Ella as I sat there. I figured that she was in AP Biology class inside and I did not think that she was involved. My guess was that something happened during Phys Ed. I would wait for Ella to come to the car and hope that she knew what was happening.
Ella had no idea what I had witnessed outside as she was deep in Biology class inside. However, we quickly learned that a family that we know was dealing with their son Ian going into cardiac arrest during kickball that afternoon. It was not a minor sprain like I hoped it would be. It was extremely serious and everyone frantically running to the turf was making so much sense.
The family has an idea about how the community was feeling during this time. We all found out what had happened and were praying hard. Every day I was talking to my friends to get updates and hope that there was a wonderful light at the end of this hard tunnel. I texted the mom Lindsey to send my prayers and offer my help. I think she knows that any of us moms would have been there for her or her children in a heartbeat.
The fast action of all the amazing people involved in CPR and using the AED saved Ian’s life. The Phys Ed teachers Ryan Hayes and Travis Denman, the School Nurse Sandy Pennella, the Athletic Director/Assistant Principal Patrick Lester, the students Daniel Girzone and Cruz Ramos, who were well trained all worked together to help save Ian’s precious life. I am in tears as I write this. What a traumatic experience for everyone involved. They are all heroes.
I heard Daniel wasn’t supposed to be at school. I was told he came earlier than normal because his practice schedule was changed. He had oxygen in his car! You tell me that you don’t believe in divine intervention because I have chills. That was some divine work in action.
Ian was rushed to Golisano Children’s Hospital into the hands of the doctors and nurses who worked together to ultimately bring Ian and his family a happy outcome. Ian spent time in the hospital recovering in the pediatric intensive care unit, but his family felt the hope that things would be ok. He was in the hospital for 8 days. Ian needed an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator.
Why am I bringing you all this information about Ian and his family. I want to share with you how inspired I am by Ian’s mom Lindsey, and I want to share important information with you. Dance moms together, school moms together, I could tell that Lindsey was a passionate mom and teacher before all of this occurred. I have gotten to see what Lindsey has turned her pain into. She is a lady on a mission, and I hope she knows that she is making a difference.
What has she done with this traumatic event in her life?
Lindsey and her family are bringing so much awareness to CPR training. She is making training events happen in multiple places and has been key in making a big community CPR training event occur on October 20th. If you are local, it is from 4:30-6:30 PM at Williamsville South High school on the athletic field and you should definitely attend the event.
She not only encourages everyone to be trained, but she also encourages everyone to locate the AED wherever we go. They should be available at every location, and we should know where it is. As we saw, it could save a life! She teaches us that we should not be afraid to use it. Her son needed it and someone else might need it too.
Lindsey plans on emailing little leagues to provide them with resources they might need to be better prepared come this spring. She wants us all to do this wherever our kids play sports. “Ask where the AED is,” plays in my head because of Lindsey. I even noticed it at Wegmans when I was grocery shopping the other day.
Lindsey has turned their pain into a purpose. She has turned it into CPR and AED awareness. When something traumatic happens in our life, the greatest coping skill there is = to use the event for good. That’s exactly what she’s doing.
What do I want you to do with all of this:
Get trained in CPR.
Locate AED’s where you go.
Ask coaches if they have access to them.
Come to the CPR training community event on October 20th. Flyer is attached.
If there is something that is causing you pain, or was traumatic in your life, I hope this will inspire you to use it to go out and do good in this world.
Our community will never forget this event. We are so thankful that Ian is ok and it is time for me to renew my CPR training.
P.S. If you come to the community CPR event on October 20th, please also grab some Chiavetta’s chicken to benefit the South PTSA.
Laughing, Learning, Loving,
Rebecca Greene, LCSW-R
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