Reagan’s story: How a Kansas girl’s sudden cardiac arrest led to survival rather than tragedy

July 16, 2023, is a day I will never forget.

It’s the day my daughter, Reagan, went into cardiac arrest at the Sunflower State Games at Washburn University. During the game, Reagan came out of the game to catch her breath. She sat down, then fell to the floor. She was unresponsive and turning blue.

Several heroic people leapt into action. They called 911, began CPR and ran to get an automated external defibrillator (AED). She received two full cycles of compressions, and one shock was delivered. After a terrifying four minutes, Reagan began breathing.

Reagan was airlifted to the hospital where she spent seven days in the cardiac ICU. After many tests, the doctors diagnosed Reagan with catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, an inherited cardiac condition that causes sudden rhythm disturbances, called arrhythmias, in otherwise healthy children. Often, there are no signs of heart problems until cardiac arrest.

Reagan survived because people knew what to do, but that is not always the case.

The American Heart Association is working to change that by building awareness of the ways communities and school respond in cardiac emergencies that include having a response plan in place that includes CPR training and access to AEDs.

This video produced by the American Heart Association offers a quick guide to hands-on CPR. (American Heart Association)

Reagan’s life was saved that day for the following important reasons.

• Reagan’s cardiac arrest happened at a location that had AEDs available and trained personnel who called 911, performed CPR and administered the AED to shock her heart.
• A plan was in place to evacuate the gymnasium so that the appropriate personnel could reach Reagan to administer lifesaving procedures.
• There was effective and timely communication between law enforcement agencies and emergency medical services.
• Continued communication with Washburn University provided the AED data to Children’s Mercy to help accurately diagnose what happened during the cardiac arrest.
• Reagan’s school district in Emporia responded to her event by implementing training for school personnel and coaches, adding 14 new AEDs to the buildings and 120 signs to help identify and locate the nearest AED equipment. They’re also running crisis drills that include local emergency medical services.
• Project Adam is working in close connection with the school district to make sure it is following all the procedures to become a Heart Safe school district.

It is our hope that Reagan’s story can serve as a catalyst for change in our state’s approach to AED accessibility.

We must improve AED access, as well as plan and train to ensure schools are prepared to protect our students in case of a cardiac emergency. Reagan’s experience underscores the critical importance of a coordinated and planned response.

Our family feels blessed for our fortunate outcome, knowing that without policies in place to ensure all schools and school athletic facilities are prepared for a cardiac emergency, other families have a tragic story to tell.

Correction: This story has been updated with the correct spelling of the author’s name and date that her daughter went into cardiac arrest.

Amanda Herrman is a wife and mother of three from Emporia, Kansas. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here.