September 18, 2024, was an ordinary day, a boring Wednesday. Spencer Davis went to school as a 10th grader at Hollidaysburg Area Senior High School in his normal state of health. He had no prior cardiac history or conditions, nor did he have a family history of sudden cardiac death. His mom Jen Davis decided to take a walk that day around Tiger Paw path, not a usual walking route alone while Spencer was at his football practice for a reason she cannot explain.
Spencer's StoryAn ordinary day that was anything but.
During a routine football play, Spencer sustained a hit that appeared to knock the wind out of him. It wasn’t a particularly hard or a concerning hit. Football coaches Rodney Chism and Joe Montrella walked over to check on him. He was unconscious and his breathing turned irregular. With the assistance of a teammate, they removed his helmet. Coaches Chism and Montrella then noted his lips were turning blue. It was at that moment Coach Montrella and looked at Coach Chism and said.. I think we need to start CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation). Two football coaches, two non-medical people, started CPR within two minutes of Spencer’s collapse, on a football field, without medical equipment and in front of his mother Jen. They not only did CPR, they did it well….
Both 911 and Amy Smearman, the Athletic Trainer at Tiger Stadium less than a mile away, was notified by Head Coach Homer Delattre. Smearman arrived and started rescue breathing while Coach Chism and Montrella continued their CPR efforts. Coach Adam Walstrom – The Senior High School Vice Principal grabbed the ZOLL™ Automated External Defibrillator (AED) from her cart and they all applied it to Spencer. They followed the voice prompts on the AED and it advised two shocks to Spencer’s heart. Spencer was still unresponsive, the three coaches continued CPR along with the help of Police Officers who arrived until EMS came onto scene. Upon EMS arrival they noted Spencer Davis had a heartbeat and was stable. 15 minutes…. From collapse to return of circulation….. 15 minutes that felt like a lifetime to Spencers Mom Jen… 15 minutes of Spencers teammates and friends watching in disbelief and shock.
Upon arrival at Altoona UPMC, Dr. Adam Blescia, and Cardiology professionals Dr. George Jabbour and CRNP Kristi Montrella with a group of ER professionals, received the ambulance and continued to provide services. At the time of arrival, Spencer had begun breathing (with the help of oxygen) and vitals were improving, due to the quality CPR given to him. He was transferred to UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh for a 7 day stay. He was discharged home however he wore a Zoll ™ Lifevest which monitored his heart and would deliver a shock if he went into a fatal rhythm. Luckily he never did. His workup was negative and he was officially diagnosed with Commotio Cordis, the same rare condition NFL player Damar Hamlin suffered on national TV January 2, 2023.
What if…. What if this was your child? Would the coaches have been CPR trained? Would the facility had an AED? If this story upsets you and makes you worry, well it should. This scenario could have easily had a very different outcome. Although Spencer’s diagnosis is extremely rare, sudden cardiac death can happen anywhere and at anytime. The four individuals who resuscitated Spencer, were CPR trained, but not because Pennsylvania requires this of coaches. Let this be a call to action, ask questions, locate AED’s, get yourself trained, and advocate for CPR training for coaches at all levels. In 15 minutes, those 4 people became heart heroes, but most importantly they saved the life of a child.
So many stars aligned the day of September 18, 2024, for this event to have a positive outcome. The quick response by all First Responders were recognized after the data from the AED was downloaded and the UPMC Children’s Hospital doctors were able to view. Thanks to all the First Responders and teams that saved Spencer. The hope is that great things will come out of this in the community we live in and that others have the same response and outcome.