MISSOURI CITY, Texas – At 16 years old, Reese Evans of Missouri City appeared to be what he describes as a “Karate Killer,” like a real-life hero with “Cobra Kai” skills.
Looking at her now, you’d never dream that at just 9 years old: soccer player, basketball player, and gymnast.
However, she’d had to undergo a heart transplant.
After she was diagnosed with a hidden heart defect, that could have killed her at any moment -- without showing any symptoms of any kind.
“I was doing a bunch of sport, ballet, soccer, gymnastics, all at the same time but I didn’t have any symptoms whatsoever,” she said.
What neither Reese nor her parents knew was that from birth, Reese had been walking around with a ticking time bomb in her chest, called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. It’s a hidden killer that can strike young athletes at any time.
“It’s that scary, it’s that lethal,” Reese’s mom, Lori Evans said.
“It’s a thickening of the heart and the blood can’t get oxygen as well, and I could suddenly have a heart attack,” Reese said.
For 10 years, KPRC 2 has partnered with the Cody Stephens Foundation to screen teen athletes for hidden heart defects like hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. These are tests that go light years beyond a normal school-required sports exam.
Scott Stephens, whose own son died from a hidden heart defect, started the program to save young athletes’ lives.
KPRC 2 is offering the next free teen heart screening event this Saturday, Jan. 20 at the Missouri City Parks and Recreation Center from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The screening is for students aged 11-25.
Both Reese and her parents are now strong proponents of testing all teen athletes this way. Reese just won a national award for creating her heart health advocacy group, called The Hero Project, and she urges all parents to get their kids screened.
“I feel like it should be mandatory,” Reese said. “I feel like it should be a normal thing. They make it so simple. It’s so professionally done, just come out and get screened.”
WHAT 2 KNOW:
2024 Missouri City Teen Heart Screenings
When: Sat. January 20
Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Missouri City Recreation and Tennis Center / 2701 Cypress Point Dr., Missouri City.
To sign up for this Saturday’s teen heart screening, click here.
For questions, contact Alahna@codystephensfoundation.org
Has your teen experienced heart problems a standard school sports exam didn’t detect? Please contact us to share your story.