My twelve-year-old son, Jeremiah Lawrence, unexpectedly passed away while playing basketball. By all accounts, Jeremiah was a healthy child and showed no signs of heart issues. In fact, heart issues were not detected in any of his previous required annual sports physicals. When Jeremiah passed out on the indoor basketball court floor, the adults did not have access to the equipment that would have saved him.

When a person is experiencing sudden cardiac arrest, medical devices can be used to save them. An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is sophisticated, yet easy-to-use, medical device that can quickly analyze heart rhythms, and deliver an electrical shock (defibrillation), to help the heart regain an effective rhythm, if necessary. Having access to an AED would have saved Jeremiah’s life.  However, the church gymnasium did not have an AED at the indoor basketball court. Although my son perished unnecessarily, no family should have to suffer the same avoidable loss.

Since some heart issues are not detectable during routine sports physicals, I am also advocating for a required extensive physical to include an Electrocardiogram, also known as an EKG, prior to an athlete playing a sport. If the EKG reveals issues with the heart, the athlete would not be automatically denied an opportunity to play basketball. The athlete would have an opportunity to safely play by doing such things as wearing a heart vest or other heart monitors during practice.

As his mother, I am advocating for a state bill requiring AEDs for every public or sports facility, and staff training on utilizing the AED. The proposed bill would require regular inspections of the AED, to ensure it would work properly in the event of an emergency. The proposed bill would be named “Jeremiah’s Law. Please sign the petition to support Jeremiah's Law.