Little Mountain Elementary School – Heart Screen #43

April 25, 2026

Honoring & remembering Monticello’s own Ricky Kothenbeutal, who sadly passed away from SCA September 4th, 2024.

  • 183 participants
  • 146 normals
  • 15 structural or electrical abnormalities
  • 22 Elevated Blood pressure
  • 209 kids & parents CPR & AED awareness
  • 1 outdoor SAVESTATION cabinet & AED donated

The 15 abnormal structural and electrical defects included 2-Bicuspid valves, 2-Mitral prolapse, 5-EKG abnormalities, 3-Enlarged aorta, 3-TBD. These will require follow-up care with a PCP, and a cardiologist. Many of these conditions will be monitored, while some will require immediate attention.

Our process is to take blood pressure after EKG & Echo, seated-from both arms. Using the Baylor Blood Pressure Protocol, when readings are high, we recheck again before physician consult. Our providers will instruct parents/kids to check at home or follow up with PCP.

Thanks to Rick & Lori Kothenbeutal, Jim & Teri Johnson-Heart Strong Monticello, Gary Revenig-Monticello HS for welcoming us and promoting the screen to Monticello and surrounding communities.

Thanks to Kaari and Scott Frondal-Rickys biological mom and stepdad, Rick & Lori Kothenbeutal-Ricky’s dad and stepmom, Ricky’s sisters Lexi & Kayla, and Ricky’s entire family for sharing Ricky’s story, helping set up/take down, volunteering, and for providing breakfast & lunch. We would also like to recognize Monticello Royal Ambassadors Ella, Avarice, Lily, and their chaperone Gina for serving lunch to our volunteers

Part of our mission is to provide host schools/communities with AEDs. In return for allowing us to use their facilities and promoting the screen, Monticello HS will receive a SAVESTATION tower and Lifepak CR2 AED that will be placed near the Tennis courts. The SAVESTATION tower is weatherproof, temperature-controlled, and protects the AED so it is ready for use anytime, by anyone.

An important part of our screening process is the Echocardiogram (Echo). We want to thank Philips Electronics and the local Philips rep. Jason Anderson for loaning us 2 of their latest-greatest echo machines. These, along with the P4P echo units, are used by our outstanding volunteer echo techs.

Thanks to Betsy Wilson, and Georgi Eckstein, for coordinating & triage the providers; Bob Wilson, Dave Homans, Steve Heifetz, Niki Myers, Mark Haugland, Brad Chu, and local physicians- Deb & Joe Mahoney for taking time out of their busy schedules to review the results and explain them to the kids and parents. We are grateful for all you do.

Last and certainly not least, to all our volunteers, THANK YOU! Set up, take down, recruiting, data entry, directing, hospitality, and testing, thank you for showing up and sharing your time to help us save lives. We cannot do this without you.

Our next screen is Saturday May 9th at the Rosemount Community Center. Register at https://playforpatrick.org/event/fy26-rosemount/

#playwithheart #playforpatrick