Aggie Hearts

Steve had an idea this year to get Hank a signed basketball from Danny Berger.  He plays basketball for USU and last year had cardiac arrest on the court and was saved by an AED and some of the amazing staff on site.  Turns out he has a CHD, just like Hank.  Read this article from the Herald Journal…

Aggies touch hearts in youth encounter

By Kelly Cannon | Posted: Monday, December 30, 2013 9:59 am

Before their match-up against San Diego Christian on Saturday, members of the Utah State University men’s basketball team spent time with kids from Intermountain Healing Hearts, a support group for kids with congenital heart defects and their families.

The players signed basketballs, took pictures and spent time with the kids in a conference room of the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum. Afterward, the kids and their families attended the game with tickets donated by the university.

The event was put together by Steve Williams, a member of the support group whose young son, Hank, was born with a heart block and currently has a pacemaker.

“This whole idea started after I heard what happened to Danny Berger. I wanted to have a ball signed by him for Hank,” Williams said. “Then it evolved into, 'Why just him? Why not everyone and why don't we make a night of it?' That's kind of how it started out.”

Last year, Berger, a member of the USU men’s basketball team, collapsed during practice after suffering cardiac arrest. Berger was flown to Intermountain Medical Center, where he recovered and returned to the game.

“Our particular interest is the connection we had with Danny Berger. He has his own little heart issues,” Williams said. “It's inspiring to me to know that my kid can look up to someone who has something similar to what he's got.”

Berger said it meant a lot to him to visit with children who have congenital heart conditions.

“It's unfortunate what these kids have to go through. I can relate a little bit to that,” Berger said. “But it means a lot to me to be here and to see their faces and get to know them a little bit.”

Nicholle King and her daughter, Corey, came down from Weston, Idaho, so her daughter could spend more time with kids who have similar conditions.

“We didn't hear about it (the group) until this summer," King said. "We attended a walk/run, and she was so excited to meet other kids who have the 'heart zipper,' as we call her scar. She thinks it really fun to know that there are other kids out there. She has seen lots of pictures of these kids on the Internet, and we've talked to their moms. She thought it was fun to come and meet them in person.”

King said she has really appreciated having the support system full of parents who know exactly what it’s like to raise a child with a heart condition.

“When you have a question, you can just get on the site and ask and they're there to help,” King said “And when they're going through it, it's nice to help them. It's wonderful.”

Mason Johnson meets with Utah State basketball player Danny Berger on Saturday. (Eli Lucero/Herald Journal)

 

Yay for Steve, good job.  Except, he was so busy, he forgot to get Hank’s ball signed (I was at work).  Guess we’ll have to get ours signed later, sigh. 

Some phone pics sent to me by Steve…