Play For Patrick Screen #33 held at Northfield Middle School Saturday April 20, 2024. We screened212 kids, and found 164 normal, 21 elevated blood pressure with repeated check,13 normal with minor variant, and 11 abnormal results.

Abnormal results included Possible Hypertrophic Cardio Myopathy (HCM), Bicuspid Aortic Valve (BAV), 2- ParoxysmalSupraventricular Tachycardia (PVST), Anomalous Coronary Artery (ACA), Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO), Pulmonary Artery Stenosis (PAS), Sinus of Valsalva Aneurysm (SOVA),Atrial Septal Defect (ASD). 

Physicians review each participant’s medical data form that includes their Family Health History, EKG, Limited Echocardiogram, and Blood Pressure. We encourage kids (parents)with abnormal & elevated blood pressure to see their primary care physician, and in most cases get further cardiac evaluation.

In addition to our trusted medical professionals, Betsy Wilson recruited and coordinated the physicians. Our physicians for the day included Bob Wilson, Scott Sakaguchi, David Homans, Jay Traverse, and Nichole Myers. We are grateful and fortunate to have the support of our volunteers, especially our physicians.

Thanks to Northfield Schools, Superintendent Matt Hillmann and Asst. Principle, Becca Bang, and the Northfield Middle school custodians for hosting us.

Thanks to the Loe family, Jim, Deb, Erica & Evan for inviting Play for Patrick and promoting the event. After learning about an undiagnosed heart condition, Erica Loe wanted a Play for Patrick heart screen in her community. Covid and college prevented Erica from seeing her dream come true, so her brother Evan took the reins, and made it happen. Amazing work from two young people!

Thanks to the Northfield Rotary club for allowing us to share our mission, promote the heart screen, and feeding our volunteers throughout the day.

Finally, we want to thank all our volunteers who helped set up & take down our gear, manage the kids and volunteers, and screen the kids. We appreciate everyone sharing their valuable time, talent, and energy to help us save young lives.

Our next screen is Saturday May 18 at Eastridge High School in Woodbury. For more information, participant & volunteer registration (opening soon!), visit www.playforpatrick.org  

From August 2015to April 2024, the Patrick Schoonover Heart Foundation conducted 33 Play for Patrick youth heart screens. Screened 5,739 kids, found 366 with elevated blood pressure (w/repeated check), 326 with abnormal electrical or structural heart defects, taught 4,603 kids & adults CPR & AED awareness and donated 19AEDs to area Schools.

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