Heart Ball 137em

On Monday, July 1st 2013, while busy at work, I received a phone call no parent wants to receive. When I heard the Lancaster Police Captain’s voice, immediately, my motherly instinct was that JJ had been hit by a car on his new bike we had just bought the night before. At first, I did not comprehend what he was saying, it was just too unthinkable. After I began to process what had actually happened I frantically asked the captain if my son was going to be ok. He solemnly responded that all he could tell me was that JJ had a pulse and was being rushed to Children’s Hospital. At the time I had no idea this man speaking to me was our hero who had just saved our son’s life.

Today, due to the heroic actions of Detective Keith Kerl, JJ is still with us. JJ has achieved many accomplishments. He is the kicker for his varsity football team, a member of the National Honor Society, Academy of Finance and Project Lead the Way Engineering program. But through it all JJ has not lost sight of how one act of bravery and the fast actions of Det. Kerl performing CPR saved his life making all this possible. JJ is now an advocate for CPR in schools and has become a CPR Instructor and paying it forward by teaching others how to save a life!

Facts to Know About Sudden Cardiac Arrest and CPR

  • Survival rates for sudden cardiac arrest occurring outside of the hospital are alarmingly low, with only 10% surviving.
  • Fewer than 1 in 3 victims of sudden cardiac arrest outside the hospital receive CPR from a bystander
  • CPR can double or triple survival rates, with 4 out of 5 cardiac arrests happening at home.

JJ’s outcome was positive and we are forever indebted to the first responders and team of people who saved our son’s life. Unfortunately, there are some stories that do not have happy endings. The American Heart Association fights tirelessly to ensure that many more stories in the future will have positive outcomes through the lifesaving work of Hands-Only CPR.

Your contributions help us to continue the mission of the American Heart Association, and help to fund training and education here in our Western New York community. Please consider making a gift today. Every contribution matters. Your commitment today will help save a life!

Please click on donate to make your contribution today and thank you for your willingness to give to such an important cause.

Thank you!

Jennifer Pesany
American Heart Association/American Stroke Association

American Heart American Stroke