SPRINGDALE -- All components necessary to preserve the life of a teenage athlete going into cardiac arrest were present when Farmington competed in junior high basketball at Shiloh Christian on Thursday.
In an instant school spirit, rivalry and intensity of competition were replaced with collaborated faith, compassion and teamwork when the Farmington freshman collapsed on the bench after checking out of the girls game. Immediately students from Shiloh Christian, a private Christian school founded and operated on the Springdale Cross Church campus, bowed their heads in prayer.
According to an eyewitness present during the incident, a defibrillator was utilized during a frantic effort to revive the girl. Farmington athletic director Brad Blew didn't identify the player but did confirm she is a freshman enrolled at Farmington. Jeff Conaway, Shiloh Christian Athletic Director, confirmed a defibrillator was used during the incident and praised Shiloh personnel and students.
"I believe the Shiloh coaches, staff, nurse, parents and student-athletes did a wonderful job during the situation and after the situation," Conaway stated via email.
The girl was transported by ambulance with both the Farmington girls and boys junior high basketball teams following her to the Emergency Room. Students and staff at Shiloh Christian sprang into action bringing food up to the hospital and comforting the same kids they had been cheering and competing against minutes earlier.
Blew said one Farmington parent is an Emergency Room doctor at Springdale Northwest Medical Center, who did come down out of the stands and there were other medical professionals at the game who responded to the emergency.
"The fact that we were [playing basketball] at Shiloh Christian, that there were medical professionals at the game and we were so close to Northwest Medical Center Hospital at Springdale, we're very fortunate that those events turned out the way that saved that little girl's life," Blew said.
The ENTERPRISE-LEADER has learned her vital signs were reported stable while she was air-lifted by helicopter to Arkansas Children's Hospital at Little Rock where medical tests were performed to determine the cause of her collapse. She was expected to undergo an MRI on Friday and the ENTERPRISE-LEADER has learned she was alert and talking and asking about her phone.
"What we know right now she is doing really well," Blew said in a Monday telephone interview. "They are still doing tests. We're just pretty fortunate."
Blew said the school is just trying to encourage one of their players as she continues to undergo medical tests and because of privacy concerns doesn't want to make her name public.
Sports on 02/04/2015