This month on the blog, we are excited to feature a guest post by Living for Zachary Intern, Sophie Betzhold.
As children we often overlook the trials of the world around us as it is easy to get caught up in our own imaginations. As an eleven year old, my primary problems rooted from my friends or whatever sport I was playing at the time. I had never experienced much adversity, and honestly, had never given the idea of it happening to me much thought. The morning of January 17, 2012, that all changed when I was awoken by tears rolling down my mother’s face as she struggled to find the words to tell me that my brother Alex had passed away in his sleep.
Alex was a healthy thirteen-year-old at the time, giving my family no reason to be concerned. He loved playing basketball, hanging out with his friends, and most importantly, messing with me. Standing around six-feet-tall in the seventh grade, gentleness was not in his nature. However, the love he shared through his quick-witted humor and passion for whatever he set his mind to outweighed anything he did to get on my nerves. He truly was an incredible friend, son, and brother.
One day I was laughing with him until I cried, and the next I was mourning the loss of my big brother who I had looked up to my entire life. That day was a cruel wake up call to the harsh reality of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) that I had never pondered. Alex had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a condition that can cause SCA. Up until then, my family and I were completely unaware of the various cardiovascular diseases that can lead to SCA.
What happened to Alex was tragic, but with that loss came great opportunity. My family created ‘Shoot for the Stars,’ an annual three-on-three basketball tournament to raise awareness of heart disease and generate financial support for those in need through the Alex Betzhold Memorial Fund. People of all ages come together each year to celebrate Alex by participating in one of his favorite things. The event includes the tournament, speakers, vendors, and live music at night, but the most important aspect of the event is the free heart screenings done by Living for Zachary.
This summer I had the opportunity to work as an intern at Living for Zachary, which has an origin story similar to my own experience with SCA. I would never wish what happened to me and my family on anyone else, which is why the work that Living for Zachary does is so important. I have been lucky enough to work with people who are passionate about raising awareness and saving lives from sudden cardiac arrest. It has truly been an amazing experience to witness the impact heart screenings and AEDs have had on communities all around Texas.
It is easy to hear stories like Alex and Zachary’s and feel detached, as if it would never happen to you. I know this because I had always believed the same. The truth is that it can, but the devastating outcome that I endured can be prevented. Waking up each morning is a gift, and one that we should never take for granted.