This week, more than 300 Bremen students had screenings to check for pediatric heart conditions through the efforts of the Play for Jake Foundation.
Superintendent Dr. Jim White said that the organization was established in memory of Jake West, a La Porte student who died from an undetected heart condition while at football practice a few years ago.
Dr. White said, “You know, teenage heart conditions are one of those things you really don’t think about. We think about it as an older person problem but it can actually strike anybody at any age so I think just raising the awareness of that is a very positive thing.”
In a statement on the foundation website, Jake’s mother Julie Schroeder mentions that before his death, her son was active and seemingly healthy, showing no signs of having heart issues. She said that is why it is vital to raise awareness and encourage young people to be screened for potential cardiac conditions.
Dr. White added that when the screenings took place at Bremen, there were a few students who were alerted of some irregularities. He said the good news is they have been made aware of those problems and now they can have them addressed before they result in anything life threatening down the line.
To learn more about the foundation, visit playforjake.org.
