Published: Thursday, February 3, 2011
Foundation hopes teen's death might save others
-
Enterprise/CHRIS GOODENOW
Jackson High School senior Grant Grosvenor waits as a Fire District 7 paramedic hooks up connections for his electrocardiogram (EKG) during a heart screening event, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2011 at Jackson High School in Mill Creek. Approximately 1-2 out of 200 youths who are heart screened are diagnosed with a serious heart abnormality, according to the Everett School District. February is heart health month. To raise awareness and promote healthy lifestyles, Jackson High School, Heatherwood Middle School and the Nick of Time Foundation offered free heart screenings. The screenings are used as a baseline test and can help detect roughly 60 percent of heart conditions that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest.
MILL CREEK -- The picture of Nick Varrenti shows the 16-year-old in his navy and yellow Mars High School football jersey.* He appears proud, confident and healthy.
His aunt, Suzanne Apodaca of Mill Creek, said the picture was taken just nine days before her nephew died from an undetected heart condition.
In 2004, Nick Varrenti suffered from a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and died at the age of 16. Prior to his death, he was a seemingly healthy teen who was active in sports.
Nick's mother, Darla Varrenti, and Apodaca have turned a tragedy into an opportunity.
“You have a choice when life doesn't happen as you think it will,” Apodaca said.
To honor Nick's memory, the sisters teamed up with Dr. Jonathan Drezner, a UWMedicine sports medicine physician, to form the Nick of Time Foundation. The team has been providing free heart screening events, targeting teens and young adults, around the Puget Sound. The Nick of Time Foundation, in partnership with University of Washington Sports Medicine and Seattle Children's Heart Center, are offering up to eight free heart screenings at high schools this year.
“None of this will bring Nicky back,” Apodaca said. “It's about if we can help someone else, that's why we do it.”
The Nick of Time Foundation, UW Medicine and Seattle Children's Hospital provided free heart screenings to Jackson High and Heatherwood Middle school students on Feb. 2. Nick Varrenti attended these schools. The Foundation's goal was to screen 400 teens, particularly athletes. During the event, 12 students were screened every 15 minutes.
Drezner, medical advisory board chair for Nick of Time, said SCA is an area of interest and research. He is collecting data from these heart screenings to see how effective heart screenings are and where the physicians can improve. Without heart-specific testing, things that could become a life-threatening problem later can go undetected, he said.
“We need to look under the surface,” he said.
One of the most alarming facts about SCA is that it can occur without symptoms, such as a history of passing out or having chest pain while exercising.
“The sudden death of an athlete on the playing field is devastating,” he said. “It happens more than we think.”
Jackson sophomore Nick Dineen, a football and basketball player, said he was encouraged by others to attend the heart screening, where he underwent these heart tests for the first time.
Dineen said it's unsettling to know that at any second, an athlete could sufferer SCA.
“Anyone can have cardiac arrest and it's good to know testing is available,” he said.
Heatherwood principal Janet Gillingham said she hopes students realize the importance of preventative care, at any age. Approximately 60 Heatherwood students signed up for the screening.
One misconception about heart conditions is they strike middle-aged adults and people who are not active and fit with diagnosed cardiac issues, Gillingham said.
“Our take is if one student's life is saved by this screening, then it's worth it,” she said.
Darla Varrenti said physicians check youths' ears and eyes but a thorough examination of their heart isn't included in physical and sports physical exams.
“We want the law changed to check (patients') hearts,” she said.
Their mission is to spread awareness about sudden cardiac arrest, catch life-threatening heart conditions, encourage people to learn CPR and prompt schools to keep automated external defibrillators (AED) in public buildings. Through fund raising, the Foundation is ensuring 200 AEDs are available in 90 Seattle public school facilities.
At each screening, 5 percent of students screened have a life-threatening abnormality, Apodaca said.
During an October screening at Auburn High School, nine cases were detected of the 380 students screened.
SCA strikes any age, gender or race and occurs when the heart stops beating. In many instances the condition strikes without warning because a heart condition went undetected.
“Your heart goes into a flutter and needs to be shocked,” Apodaca said. She likened the condition to having an electrical problem, versus a heart attack, which is a plumbing issue.
Approximately 7,000 to 14,000 children and young adults die from SCA per year, according to the Center for Disease Control. Like Nick, most kids who experience this condition are active, appear healthy and didn't show symptoms such as shortness of breath or chest pain.
During the event, Jackson and Heatherwood students were screened with an electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiogram (ECHO), which are used as baseline tests to detect approximately 60 percent of heart conditions that can lead to SCA. Participants practiced CPR and using AEDs and consulted one-on-one with cardiologists to review symptoms or a family history of heart problems they disclosed.
Apodaca said these physicians took the day off to volunteer their service. Additionally, community members showed their support as parents and firefighters volunteered their time to help out.
Two volunteers were sisters Natasha and Kasandra Dengate, who wanted to take their experiences with a heart condition and pay it forward to help other people.
“It makes you feel good trying to help people,” said Natasha, 25. “You have to be able to embrace yourself and move on. Look at the positive side: you're here.”
The sisters, of Stanwood, were diagnosed with Long QT syndrome (LQTS), a condition where heart rhythms can cause fast, chaotic beats. This disorder can cause fainting, seizures and can be fatal.
Kasandra, 17, went into a cardiac arrest last year while she was asleep. Her cousin found her. Her heart was shocked seven times and she spent one month at Seattle Children's Hospital where she was kept on ice to prevent brain damage.
“I got lucky,” Kasandra said.
Afterward, Natasha underwent tests and learned she too, had the same syndrome. The sisters said their mother died at 26 from the same condition, which went undetected.
Each have an internal defibrillator to regulate their heart beat.
“Even though doctors may say ‘everything is ok,' you still want to keep looking,” Kasandra said.
“It takes a specialist,” Natasha added.
Darla Varrenti said these heart screenings are bittersweet. The positive is that they spread information that can save lives and catch potentially life threatening conditions. The downside is turning a family's life upside down if problems are detected.
“We want to save another family from the heartbreak we went through,” she said.
*Correction, Feb. 7, 2011: This article originally said Varrenti was wearing a Jackson High School football uniform. Mars High School is in Pennsylvania.
His aunt, Suzanne Apodaca of Mill Creek, said the picture was taken just nine days before her nephew died from an undetected heart condition.
In 2004, Nick Varrenti suffered from a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and died at the age of 16. Prior to his death, he was a seemingly healthy teen who was active in sports.
Nick's mother, Darla Varrenti, and Apodaca have turned a tragedy into an opportunity.
“You have a choice when life doesn't happen as you think it will,” Apodaca said.
To honor Nick's memory, the sisters teamed up with Dr. Jonathan Drezner, a UWMedicine sports medicine physician, to form the Nick of Time Foundation. The team has been providing free heart screening events, targeting teens and young adults, around the Puget Sound. The Nick of Time Foundation, in partnership with University of Washington Sports Medicine and Seattle Children's Heart Center, are offering up to eight free heart screenings at high schools this year.
“None of this will bring Nicky back,” Apodaca said. “It's about if we can help someone else, that's why we do it.”
The Nick of Time Foundation, UW Medicine and Seattle Children's Hospital provided free heart screenings to Jackson High and Heatherwood Middle school students on Feb. 2. Nick Varrenti attended these schools. The Foundation's goal was to screen 400 teens, particularly athletes. During the event, 12 students were screened every 15 minutes.
Drezner, medical advisory board chair for Nick of Time, said SCA is an area of interest and research. He is collecting data from these heart screenings to see how effective heart screenings are and where the physicians can improve. Without heart-specific testing, things that could become a life-threatening problem later can go undetected, he said.
“We need to look under the surface,” he said.
One of the most alarming facts about SCA is that it can occur without symptoms, such as a history of passing out or having chest pain while exercising.
“The sudden death of an athlete on the playing field is devastating,” he said. “It happens more than we think.”
Jackson sophomore Nick Dineen, a football and basketball player, said he was encouraged by others to attend the heart screening, where he underwent these heart tests for the first time.
Dineen said it's unsettling to know that at any second, an athlete could sufferer SCA.
“Anyone can have cardiac arrest and it's good to know testing is available,” he said.
Heatherwood principal Janet Gillingham said she hopes students realize the importance of preventative care, at any age. Approximately 60 Heatherwood students signed up for the screening.
One misconception about heart conditions is they strike middle-aged adults and people who are not active and fit with diagnosed cardiac issues, Gillingham said.
“Our take is if one student's life is saved by this screening, then it's worth it,” she said.
Darla Varrenti said physicians check youths' ears and eyes but a thorough examination of their heart isn't included in physical and sports physical exams.
“We want the law changed to check (patients') hearts,” she said.
Their mission is to spread awareness about sudden cardiac arrest, catch life-threatening heart conditions, encourage people to learn CPR and prompt schools to keep automated external defibrillators (AED) in public buildings. Through fund raising, the Foundation is ensuring 200 AEDs are available in 90 Seattle public school facilities.
At each screening, 5 percent of students screened have a life-threatening abnormality, Apodaca said.
During an October screening at Auburn High School, nine cases were detected of the 380 students screened.
SCA strikes any age, gender or race and occurs when the heart stops beating. In many instances the condition strikes without warning because a heart condition went undetected.
“Your heart goes into a flutter and needs to be shocked,” Apodaca said. She likened the condition to having an electrical problem, versus a heart attack, which is a plumbing issue.
Approximately 7,000 to 14,000 children and young adults die from SCA per year, according to the Center for Disease Control. Like Nick, most kids who experience this condition are active, appear healthy and didn't show symptoms such as shortness of breath or chest pain.
During the event, Jackson and Heatherwood students were screened with an electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiogram (ECHO), which are used as baseline tests to detect approximately 60 percent of heart conditions that can lead to SCA. Participants practiced CPR and using AEDs and consulted one-on-one with cardiologists to review symptoms or a family history of heart problems they disclosed.
Apodaca said these physicians took the day off to volunteer their service. Additionally, community members showed their support as parents and firefighters volunteered their time to help out.
Two volunteers were sisters Natasha and Kasandra Dengate, who wanted to take their experiences with a heart condition and pay it forward to help other people.
“It makes you feel good trying to help people,” said Natasha, 25. “You have to be able to embrace yourself and move on. Look at the positive side: you're here.”
The sisters, of Stanwood, were diagnosed with Long QT syndrome (LQTS), a condition where heart rhythms can cause fast, chaotic beats. This disorder can cause fainting, seizures and can be fatal.
Kasandra, 17, went into a cardiac arrest last year while she was asleep. Her cousin found her. Her heart was shocked seven times and she spent one month at Seattle Children's Hospital where she was kept on ice to prevent brain damage.
“I got lucky,” Kasandra said.
Afterward, Natasha underwent tests and learned she too, had the same syndrome. The sisters said their mother died at 26 from the same condition, which went undetected.
Each have an internal defibrillator to regulate their heart beat.
“Even though doctors may say ‘everything is ok,' you still want to keep looking,” Kasandra said.
“It takes a specialist,” Natasha added.
Darla Varrenti said these heart screenings are bittersweet. The positive is that they spread information that can save lives and catch potentially life threatening conditions. The downside is turning a family's life upside down if problems are detected.
“We want to save another family from the heartbreak we went through,” she said.
*Correction, Feb. 7, 2011: This article originally said Varrenti was wearing a Jackson High School football uniform. Mars High School is in Pennsylvania.