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Anthony Bates Foundation

Anthony Bates BLOG

Another KSU family reunion & heart screening!

10/23/2018

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Tomorrow Sharon heads out to Kansas State University (KSU) for their annual screening, back to where it all began. Kansas State played a huge part in Anthony’s life, even before he joined the football team. Before moving back to Phoenix from Wichita in the 6th grade, Anthony loved watching Kansas State football with his family (even if they were one of the worst college teams in the league!). While the Bates Family lived in Wichita, the tides turned for K-State with the introduction of Coach Bill Snyder.
 
Anthony started playing football at the age of 10 (Sharon even coached his first two seasons). Once he reached high school, he played on the Freshman, JV and Varsity teams for Mountain Pointe. Anthony had always wanted to play for Kansas State in college, and by the time he was ready to go, they were actually winning. He wasn’t considered for a KSU scholarship his first year out of high school, so he headed to Phoenix College to continue playing football.
 
Though Anthony was getting some attention from the coaching staff at Kansas State during his first season, it wasn’t until the second season that Defensive Line Coach Mo Latimore started making some calls. Coach Latimore called to talk to both Sharon and Anthony to get an idea of how he was doing as a student and if he was still passionate about playing. In the end, Coach Latimore still decided not to move forward with Anthony. By some twist of fate, Anthony’s name was left on a list for Coach Bill Snyder to call. Even though Anthony explained there had been some kind of mistake, Coach Snyder still took 30 minutes out of his day to get to know him a little better.
 
Right after Anthony and Coach Snyder had the chance to talk, assistant coaches Bobby and Mike Stoops were causing some serious drama over at Kansas State. Mike was offered a job at the University of Oklahoma and took half the recruits with him. Couple that with a hard loss at the 1999 bowl game and Anthony finally got his call. He was off to Kansas on January 2nd, 1999.
 
As a late recruit, Anthony did receive the usual wellness physical. But, back then, no heart check was included.  Coincidentally, the next opportunity for a physical would have been the day after his truck accident and Sudden Cardiac Death.  As ironic as that may seem, it wouldn’t have mattered. To our understanding, no NCAA Division I college athletic program was utilizing any sort of heart screening technology, and Anthony’s disease would not have been caught.
 
Kansas State University and Coach Snyder have been absolutely integral in the development of the Anthony Bates Foundation (ABF). They’ve continued to offer their support, host screenings, and collaborate with strategic partnerships throughout the years. Had Anthony gone to any other school, we know the support would not have been the same. Coach Snyder has always emphasized the importance of family, and he never hesitated to make us part of his. As Coach Snyder said, “there is no appropriate time for death,” but Anthony’s passing has not been in vain. With the support of Coach Snyder and Kansas State University, Kansas State Alumni Association, Kansas State Foundation, and the entire Manhattan, KS community we’ve screened over 14,200.  Plus, ABF has trained over 75 organizations across the country & worldwide that have screened over 600,000 young hearts.  Our efforts combined have saved THOUSANDS of families from the same loss, and we have no intention of stopping.  We strive to do better each day!

Be part of Anthony's legacy, dig deep down in your HEART to donate now to allow us to screen more hearts & save more lives!  Visit www.anthonybates.org/donations.html

"Screening young hearts and Saving young lives!"


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How much is a life worth?

10/10/2018

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Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness month reminds us of that value!  In case you haven’t heard yet, October is Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness month! Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is the leading cause of death in the US, claiming more than 350,000 lives each year. SCA can happen to anyone at any time, even in those who have displayed no prior symptoms. Typically, SCA is caused by an electrical or structural problem, but it can also result from infection or a severe hit to the chest.
 
Over 90% of the time, SCA is fatal. Defibrillation is essential to saving lives, but if this is not administered in the first 6 minutes, the victim will most likely be lost. Chest compression and CPR can also be crucial to bridging the time between SCA and the arrival of an automated external defibrillator (AED).  
 
Risk factors for sudden death are not easy to identify, so being proactive can be key. As the name suggests, these symptoms set quickly and may not be obvious at first. Researchers recently have identified that the majority of victims have minor symptoms such as dizziness, chest pains or shortness of breath, occurring anywhere from four weeks to one hour before the event. Although these may not seem severe, when it comes to matters of heart, they should never be taken lightly.
 
In Anthony Bates’ case, SCA stemmed from undiagnosed Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM). HCM makes the heart muscle abnormally thick and can cause unusual rhythms that can be life threatening for some. It’s the most common cardiac genetic disorder and probably the most well known cause of death among young high school and college athletes. Because this issues leading up to a SCA often goes undiagnosed until collapse, it is crucial be proactive.
 
Though he’s greatly missed, Anthony’s legacy has led us to save over 29,000 lives saved since his death. We’ve trained over 75 teams to offer heart screenings to youth and adults nationwide. That means over 650,000 hearts screened, and we have no intention of slowing down.
 
Come celebrate Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness month with us at an upcoming screening! Whether you have concerning symptoms, family history or are in the prime of your life, everyone can use a little peace of mind. Check out our events page and book your screening today!

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FOOD FOR THOUGHT

10/4/2018

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What is it about food that brings people together? Being able to make a dish and share it with the ones you love goes back to the very beginnings of tradition, and it truly represents a special bond. There’s nothing quite like making a recipe that’s been passed down through generations, eating the same foods our great grandparents used to, and making new memories along the way. Yes, there’s definitely something special about coming together to create and share a meal that carries a legacy with it.
 
Here at the Anthony Bates Foundation, we also cherish the bonding experience that comes from making and sharing a meal. 11 years ago, we decided to reach out to our community and create a cookbook of our own. Tastes of Heaven was truly a labor of love from all of our wonderful families and friends. We gathered all types of recipes and even included some of Anthony’s favorites (Corn Casserole was a major standout!).
 
Whenever we share our family recipes, we share a little bit of our own story and the people in it. We have the chance to remember those that may no longer be with us while we create new memories of our own. It’s because of this that we are pleased to share with you Tastes of Heaven Volume 2. With nearly twice as many recipes, you’ve got double the opportunity to set aside some time to prepare great meals to share with family and friends. I’ve personally tried a couple recipes and you will not be disappointed. Easy Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Sauce was (courtesy of Cindy Baker. a longtime friend & ultrasound volunteer) and the Gluten Free Melting Moments (courtesy of Pat Paxton, a longtime friend) are the ideal treats for an office potluck. The Cook-Top Cove: Ground Beef Stroganoff in the Slow Cooker (courtesy of Laura Martin, ABF volunteer) is a perfect fast-and-easy weeknight meal that is sure to keep the whole family satisfied. With over 275 recipes, there’s a little bit of something for everyone, and it's the perfect secret weapon with the holiday season fast approaching!
 
Think about all the important people in your life, family and friends, past and present, with which you’ve shared meals, and the happiness, joy, love, and memories surrounding them. Rekindle those memories and make new ones today by visiting our website. You can order your copy of Tastes of Heaven Volume 2 NOW!  And while you’re at it, why not pick up 4 extra copies (and get 2 FREE) to make perfect holiday gifts “from the heart”. All proceeds will help us with our continuing mission to “screen more hearts and save more lives”.  With every heart screened, we get to expand our community, share our purpose and develop connections with one another. And it should come as no surprise: we always bring the food!

Now, that’s “food for thought!”

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Thank you for visiting our website. If you have questions about our services please feel free to contact us either online or on the phone. We are based in Phoenix, AZ. Copyright 2022, Anthony Bates Foundation. All Rights Reserved. 
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