Is your child really as "healthy" as you think?

Summer is truly upon us and with that comes sports such as baseball, basketball, softball, golf, summer training for football and more. Hundreds and hundreds of high school and college athletes compete and battle in their sports and training every year without ever a problem with their heart because they are "healthy". BUT, what exactly is "healthy" and do you really know?

When a player collapses in the middle of a practice or a competition of some sort people are always so surprised because they had no idea. When tragedy does strike, it is usually because of a undiagnosed cardiac problem. In most cases, no one ever knew.

Sports and competitions put a huge stress on your heart, no doubt.  Players die so many times in so many sports, and so many states, and we just don't hear about it. But, fact of the matter is - it happens more that you know and that is why Living for Zachary is trying to spread the words - Get your child's heart screened!


Sudden Cardiac Arrest is the silent killer, there are not too many warnings  -  especially in athletes ages 13-18.  Kids that are even at a higher risk are children from the ages of 18-25.

We all know how expensive playing a sport can be - parent's pay large amounts of money for their kids to cheer, play hockey, play football, etc. Why in the world are we not paying a small fee to have our kid's heart screened? Fact is - we don't think we need to have our kid's heart screened. You know, the "not my kid, he is healthy as an ox".  No heart problems in the family, has played sports for so many years, no warning signs - we know all the excuses but Karen Schrah would tell you different now. Zachary Schrah never showed any signs or symptoms of heart problems, had regular physicals and had played sports for years  - he was ..... "healthy as an ox" but who would have known that Zachary would collapse on a football field and die.

To learn about the Living for Zachary Heart Screening; please visit the Living for Zachary website. There is no excuse to not have your child or children's heart screened if they are between the age of 12 and 22.