Joe Krejci is surrounded by Blessed Divounguy, Craig Titsworth, Annie Young and Max Orvik, who saved his life at LHJH. (Photo by Danny Fulgencio)

Living for Zachary Heart Screenings are named for an active Plano teen who loved baseball, football and fishing with his Grandpa. In 2009, Zac collapsed and died from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) during football practice. This Saturday, Living for Zachary is partnering with Baylor Scott & White to provide free heart screenings for youth ages 12-22 at the Lake Highlands YMCA.

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The noninvasive screening package includes electrocardiogram, limited 2-D echocardiogram, blood pressure screening, SCA risk health questionnaire and a screening review by board-certified cardiologists. More information is here, and appointments are required. More testing dates at other locations are also available.

Pitching in at the event will be Virginia Krejci, who knows a little something about the benefits of such testing. Her son, Joe, collapsed during track class at Lake Highlands Junior High in 2017. Coach Craig Titsworth sent his fastest runners, and Nurse Annie Young returned with the school’s automated external defibrillator (AED) to shock Joe’s heart back into rhythm. Three years later, Virginia and husband, Mike, left Joe’s Winter Formal photo opp and went to dinner on Greenville Avenue. Mike stepped away for a moment, and Virginia collapsed in a heap. Paramedics jump-started her heart, also with an AED.

The Living for Zachary Heart Screening will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 24. The LH YMCA is at 8920 Stults Road at Greenville Ave.

Author

  • Carol Toler

    Blogger CAROL TOLER and her husband, Toby, are the parents of four LHHS graduates. She has an MBA from SMU and is the proud recipient of the Exchange Club of LH's Unsung Hero Award and Councilman McGough's Blake Anderson Public Service Award. She received LHHS PTA's Extended Service Award, FMJH PTA's Charger Award and a Life Membership from the LHFC PTA. She has moderated candidate debates for Dallas Mayor, Dallas City Council and RISD Trustee races and taught seminars on garnering publicity for nonprofits. She completed training with Dallas Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation and Inside RISD, and she's a sustaining member of LH Women's League. She has served on the boards of After8 to Educate, Dallas Free Press, Healing Hands Ministries and Camp Sweeney and chaired fundraisers for multiple Dallas nonprofits. Email ctoler@advocatemag.com.