OSU Student Wrestling Trainers Named 2007 OKLAHOMA HEART HERO
Oklahoma Heart Hero Award Promotes the Training and Use of CPR and Automated External Defibrillators to Save Lives
OKLAHOMA CITY—Students and wrestling trainers with Oklahoma State University have been named joint winners of the 2007 Oklahoma Heart Hero award. The purpose of the award is to honor those who are prepared to deal with a cardiovascular emergency, educate others how to become prepared, serve as an incentive for others to be trained in CPR and use of an AED and to have the confidence to get involved when circumstances are warranted.
Student Trainers Blaine Burris and Ryota Higuchi Save Ponca City Wrestler:
15-year-old Wesley Atkins of Ponca City was attending a wrestling camp at Oklahoma State University on July 1st. He had been wrestling all morning and showed no sign of fatigue or illness. Suddenly, in mid-match, he dropped to the mat unconscious. Student camp coaches Blaine Burris and Ryota Higuchi immediately began CPR and called for help. Rescuing Wesley was truly a team effort. Assistant Coach Matt Herrill says some of his students called 911 to help guide the CPR team in their efforts, some ran for an automated external defibrillator to begin shocking the boy’s heart.
Wesley was airlifted by helicopter to Oklahoma Heart Hospital in a coma. He was placed in a “chill suit” and placed in a hyperthermia state to give his heart and brain a better chance to heal. He was touch and go for several days and then emerged from the coma. Cardiologists have now diagnosed and treated him for an abnormal electrical pathway in his heart. His mother says you can hardly tell anything ever happened to him.
(L-R) Blaine Burris, Ryota Higuchi, and Matt Herrill of Oklahoma State University receive the 2007 Heart Hero Award from Dr. Harvey (right) with the Heart Hospital
Nominees for Oklahoma Heart Hero, recognizing civilians and trained rescuers who stepped up to attempt to save a life, came from all over the state. The winner is determined by the events of the rescue, whether they were a civilian or trained professional, the age of the victim, and any special circumstances. Winners had to administer CPR or use an Automated External Defibrillator device as are found in malls, businesses and schools.
Three finalists were named and the winner was announced during a reception at the Oklahoma Heart Hospital on Thursday, August 23rd. The following individuals were also finalists:
Ryan Finley - husband:
32-year-old Jill Finley (pictured below with Ryan) of Edmond looked asleep when her husband Ryan woke up on May 26th, 2007. When he tried to rouse her, he realized she wasn’t breathing. He immediately called 911 and began CPR – the 911 operator stayed on the line with him until paramedics arrived and delivered a shock from an automated external defibrillator. 
But Jill’s crisis was far from over. She was rushed to the Oklahoma Heart Hospital in a coma and placed in a hypothermic state with a “chill suit”. Jill lingered in a coma on the edge of death – then on the 18th day, when the families hope was running out – she suddenly woke up. Jill is slowly recovering as doctors continue to search for reasons why her heart stopped that morning.
Dr. Athena Mason – friend:
11-year-old Michael Slatcher was the catcher playing baseball on April 19th, 2007 in Broken Arrow, when suddenly he was hit in the chest by a flying bat. Michael grabbed the ball and made the throw, then he dropped to the ground – he wasn’t breathing and his heart had stopped.
Dr. Athena Mason, whose son also plays on Michael’s team, realized Michael was in big trouble and quickly began CPR. His heart started and stopped several times and each time Dr. Mason began CPR all over again. Within minutes paramedics arrived with an automated external defibrillator and shocked Michael’s heart back into beating. Emergency room doctors were amazed that Michael didn’t suffer permanent heart or brain damage.
Michael’s family is now on a campaign to get more and more Oklahoma coaches trained in CPR to handle such emergencies in the future.