It
was a typical Kansas
summer morning in Manhattan on July 31, 2000: A blazing prairie sun with a few scattered clouds. The humidity
was over 80-percent as the temperature climbed above the 80-degree mark on its way to a nearly 90 degree day. Anthony died before the end of the afternoon from undiagnosed HCM, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy or an enlarged
heart. Every three days, another “perfectly healthy” child athlete
dies from Sudden Cardiac Arrest while playing sports, marching with the band, or even following Physical Education class.
Avoiding those heart-breaking deaths is possible with a simple heart screening. Low cost & free heart health screening
of all students and athletes ages 12 to 24 are possible through the Anthony Bates Foundation (ABF). Sharon Bates, whose 20-year
old K-State football-playing son died from a sudden cardiac arrest, helps parents avoid the heartbreak she and other parents
have experienced with the heart screenings on Sunday, September 11th, between 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m., at K-State Alumni Center,
1720 Anderson Ave. in Manhattan. This year on September 11th, marks the 11th anniversary
of our ABF Cardiac Screening Day in Manhattan. Anthony’s death could have
been avoided had this screening program been available eleven years ago. In the these years of conducting the low cost
& free screenings, consistently, one out of ten student athletes are found with a detectable, serious, manageable heart
condition.
The painless, fast screenings check
children for heart conditions leading to Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). Too many times the news media carry stories of an apparently
healthy student athlete dying on the playing fields. This parental nightmare becomes even worse with the knowledge that the
cause of death is detectable, and lives can be saved with advanced knowledge and sometimes simple lifestyle changes. Knowledge
is the power to prevent SCA. Appointments for specific times may be reserved at www.AnthonyBates.org, the Foundation’s Web site. Pre-registration is required.
One in ten students screened have undetected
heart abnormalities requiring further evaluation or medical care according to the ABF screening results from over 7,000 students
and student athletes. The leading killer of young athletes is a condition called Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
(HCM) or “enlarged heart.” The Anthony Bates Foundation targets young athletes to help prevent these unnecessary
deaths. Every three days, another student athlete dies on the playing field. With its cadre of sponsors, volunteers, and volunteer
nurses and cardiac physicians, the Foundation are performing for a small donation of $20 per student the normally $1,600 echocardiogram
(ultra sound), a $500 Electrocardiogram (EKG) with a physician review.
Donations
and event sponsors help offset screening costs for the Foundation. The Foundation costs associated with each heart screen
is approximately $75. While the suggested donation is low for the child heart screenings at this event, this voluntary tax-deductible
contribution to the Anthony Bates Foundation of just $20 helps fund screenings for more children. Contributions made September
11th at the Heart Health screening also purchase at least one (1) portable Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) for an area
school. Just go to www.AnthonyBates.org to donate, or provide your contact information for the screening.
The screening
process includes a comprehensive questionnaire filled in by parent and student, followed by a discussion of the answers between
the child and a medical professional. Next the student receives a Blood Pressure check, and a non-invasive Electrocardiogram
(EKG). Finally, the child is given the painless ultrasound imaging of the heart.
These results are reviewed by a volunteer cardiac physician, and discussed with child and parent. In the ten percent of the
cases where a problem is found, the family is referred back to their primary care physician for further evaluation, referral,
or treatment.
Anthony Bates, former Kansas State University
athlete, died in 2000 following a routine morning weight-room workout with the Kansas
State University football team.
He was found to have had a detectable, enlarged heart, a health condition with minor symptoms and for which he was never screened.
Founded after his death to help prevent other parents from experiencing a similar tragedy, the Anthony Bates Foundation is
a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation.
For more information, please contact
Sharon Bates at 602-482-5606.
