There have been countless news stories reporting on seemingly healthy young athletes who suddenly collapse on the basketball court, football field or track and cannot be saved. Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) can happen with no prior warning. If detected early, heart defects and conditions can be managed or surgically corrected, ultimately saving lives.
The Cody Stephens Foundation
Cody Stephens was a young football player who had committed to play in college. In 2012, he died at home in his sleep due to an undetected heart condition. The Cody Stephens Foundation was created by Cody’s family to honor him by making a difference for young athletes, so families like theirs would be spared the grief of losing a son or daughter.
Working with schools and community partners, the foundation offers free heart screenings for young athletes, ages 11-25. The electrocardiogram (ECG) is a quick, painless screening that can reveal dangerous conditions or abnormalities that may not be detected in a routine sports physical. Per the foundation’s website, their screenings have detected more than 4,000 potentially life-threatening heart conditions. They estimate the impact of the screenings may have saved more than 200 lives.
The foundation also provides CPR training for students. Their work to pass Cody’s Law, also known as House Bill 76, ensures that students and their families will have access to educational materials about Sudden Cardiac Arrest and can request an electrocardiogram screening.
KPRC 2’s Bill Spencer has amplified the work of the Cody Stephens Foundation for more than a decade. You can see some of his coverage including testimony from young athletes speaking on the foundation’s lifesaving work in the Related Stories section of this article.
Free Heart Screening Events
The Cody Stephens Foundation is hosting two heart screening events for young athletes in February. Registration is recommended, however no child will be turned away if they walk-in for a screening. There will be separate, private spaces for screenings for boys and girls.
- Saturday, February 7 - Lone Star College CyFair EMS in Cypress
- Saturday, February 28 - Houston Christian University
- Sponsored by the Linda R. Dunham School of Nursing at HCU
- More information coming soon
How You Can Help
The Cody Stephens Foundation needs donations and volunteers to continue their mission to help get more young people screened for undetected heart conditions. You can find more information on their website. A $25 donation can help sponsor an ECG heart screening for a child.
KPRC 2 and our partners at Energy Transfer and Houston Christian University proud to feature The Cody Stephens Foundation in our KPRC 2 Community February spotlight for American Heart Month.