Curtis Rosenau, a 14-year-old boy at the time, was just at basketball practice when he collapsed due to his “heart stopping beating”. His father, who happened to be the basketball coach, began CPR and asked another person at the scene to get the AED. A lifeguard who saw what was happening joined the shocked father performing CPR on his son. They tried the AED, yet Curtis still didn’t have a heartbeat. As his father grew distraught with the situation, the lifeguard continued to help with CPR and the AED.
Bad weather paired with a train crossing slowed the help of professional medical help. Curtis still didn’t have a heartbeat when they arrived. They did 26 minutes of intense CPR and 13 shock to bring Curtis’ heart back to life.
Once he got to the hospital, Curtis’ temperature was still high and doctors used cooling blankets to help stabilize his temperature. Curtis had just undergone a sudden cardiac arrest due to catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular fibrillation.
Since he was diagnosed, his father and brother have been tested and diagnosed with the same condition. His condition keeps him from playing sports competitively, but he still enjoys his life. Although just in college, Curtis fully understands the quickly-changing tides of life and values more every day than your average 20 year old.
