A Life Saved and a Legacy Continued
In August of 2019, Coach Tom Rapp collapsed from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) during a Plano East Panthers football practice. As coaches rushed to his aid, the fear that history was repeating itself was palpable in that moment.
A Friendship Through It All
For Greg, the presence of an AED and people who were willing and able to use it meant the difference between life and death. Looking back at the experience, mostly relayed to him by Ernie, Luke, and Mike, he is overwhelmed by the heroism of his friends.
A heart saved early
Luke, a student at John Paul II High School in Plano and a competitive soccer player, has always been active in sports—but soccer is his true passion. During a routine physical in June 2021, his physician assistant offered an EKG and shared a story about a young athlete collapsing. When the results came back abnormal, Luke’s family immediately scheduled a Living for Zachary Heart Screening in Denton. While away on a family trip, they received the results: Luke had been diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome.
Concerned and unsure of what the diagnosis meant, Luke’s family quickly sought care at Children’s Hospital Plano. After further testing, cardiologists confirmed the condition and scheduled a catheter ablation to correct it. The procedure was completed in November 2021, and Luke was home the same day—back on the soccer field just three days later. “We had no idea anything was wrong,” said his mother, Mary Claire. “We thank God daily for the Living for Zachary Screening—it may have saved his life.”
Back In The Game
Camden Thrailkill, a standout athlete from Denton Guyer High School, has always had a passion for football and baseball, with dreams of playing at the collegiate level. A healthy and active teen, Camden showed no signs of health issues during routine physicals. But in August 2016, a free Living for Zachary heart screening revealed he had a rare heart defect—an isolated cleft of the mitral valve—something traditional exams had never detected.
In October 2016, Camden underwent successful robotic arm surgery at The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano and returned to school just three weeks later. By January, he had made the high school baseball team and eventually went on to play at Navarro College. “My heart is never going to hold me back,” he said. Today, Camden continues to thrive, committed to making the most of his second chance.
A Heartbeat Away
When 15-year-old Makenzie Wise began experiencing chest pain, rapid heartbeat, and shortness of breath, her pediatrician believed it was likely due to stress—but still recommended a heart screening to rule out any issues. Inspired by a friend’s recent post, Makenzie’s parents scheduled a Living for Zachary Heart Screening at The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano during Christmas break. Just three days later, they received a call: Makenzie had Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome (WPW) and needed to stop all physical activity immediately.
Makenzie was rushed into surgery within days, just in time to keep her dream alive of trying out for the Planoettes drill team. The procedure was a success, and doctors later revealed her condition could have led to Sudden Cardiac Arrest. Makenzie was back at school in four days—and made the team. Today, her family continues to share her story and encourages others to get heart screenings. “We thank God for Zachary and his mom Karen every day,” says Makenzie’s mom, Lari.
Early Detection, Life long Impact
In August 2014, 12-year-old Jackson Dakuginow of Plano and his sister Annabelle received a Living for Zachary Heart Screening after a friend on Jackson’s baseball team mentioned it. While Annabelle’s results were normal, Jackson’s echocardiogram showed an abnormality. A follow-up with his pediatrician confirmed that Jackson has a bicuspid aortic valve, a hereditary condition that can lead to serious heart issues later in life.
Thanks to the screening, Jackson’s family now knows to monitor his heart annually, even though he can continue playing sports. His mother, Cathy Jo—whose grandfather died of a related condition—is now aware of the hereditary risk and plans to have her younger son screened in the future. “I’m a big proponent of what Living for Zachary does,” she said.
A Life Saved First
In 2011, Mike was sitting in service at St. Mark’s Catholic Church when he collapsed with little warning. Thankfully, that wasn’t the end of Mike’s story.
Just one year prior, Living for Zachary had made its first-ever AED donation to St. Mark’s – and that AED was quickly retrieved as a bystander performed CPR on Mike. The AED was used to shock Mike’s heart back into rhythm, saving his life. Since that day, Mike has dedicated himself to making sure each and every citizen is prepared to help in the case of an emergency just like his. He serves as a CPR/AED instructor and is a champion of Living for Zachary’s mission.
Our first-ever AED donation quickly became so much more than that: it gave the gift of a second chance to Mike and his family.