A Heart of Gold
Gerry Bram, is a dramatic example of how AEDs save lives. The former Philadelphia public league and college football referee was officiating a game at Syracuse University on September 29, 2001 when he collapsed and his heart stopped beating. Fortunately, the University had acquired a defibrillator two months earlier. Bram was resuscitated on the field immediately, taken to a hospital, and avoided any permanent damage from his attack. He now has a miniature AED implanted in his heart.
At their first Annual Memorial Golf Outing on October 3, 2005, Toni Pellegrini and Lorraine Sikora presented Savino Foundation Board Member Gerry Bram with the Heart of Gold award. Gerry worked tirelessly to secure many golf outing sponsors, golfers and hundreds of dollars in prizes for the event.
The Savino Foundation is honored that Gerry Bram is a member of their Board of Directors. He serves as a powerful reminder that AEDs do save lives and that tragedy does not have to follow a sudden cardiac arrest event.
More Survivor Stories
The Savino Foundation continuously tracks news stories to determine if Automated External Defibrillators were used at the time when a student collapsed from a cardiac disorder. The following news stories have been located. They truly demonstrate that AEDs, if they are nearby can save a life. If you learn about an AED Save, please contact us at savinofoundation@aol.com and provide the news link to the story.
11-Year-Old Girl Collapses In School; Principal Gives CPR -10-22-08
Local parents save ref's life - 10/23/08
Fast action, quick jolts save life of coach
School's defibrillator saves Willis student - 9/5/08
Football Player Speaks Out After Collapse - 9/6/08
Teacher and Nurse Saves Student 10/3/08
Police revive Greencastle swimmer - 8/26/08
Trainer's CPR saves child's life 8/20/08
Lamar High player revived with defibrillator after collapse 8/4/08
Fast thinking likely saved teen 8/5/08
Even if it fails, lifesaving skills give victims a chance
Group Wants Mandatory CPR Classes In Schools-Teen Helps Save 63-Year-Old's Life
Aurora employees bring co-worker back to life - 7/15/08
Local Scoutmaster lends lifesaving hand - 7/12/08
Local physician receives civilian lifesaver award - 7/8/08
AEDs at Middleburg Heights community center save lives
Off-duty officer, firefighter revive man at fields
School Defibrillator Saves Grandmother's Life
Girl Saves boys life with CPR after his heart stopped - 5/7/08
Quick response saves student's life - 4/30/08
Staff saves teen after collapse at Dad's job - 4/25/08
Defibrillator helps save Colby teacher's life - 4/21/08
Gibbons Lacrosse Player's Life Saved by Defibrillator - 4/19/08
AED Donated After Tragedy Saves Student's Life - 4/7/08
Student helps save a classmate's life - 4/07/08
Defibrillator policy essential; Man treated after collapsing at Bellaire event - 4/5/08
Defibrillator Used To Revive Softball Player - 4/1/08
USF pitcher recovers after heart stopped - 4/1/08
School's readiness saves boy's life - 3/3/08
Monticello athlete out of hospital after cardiac arrest - 2/29/08
BYU student shares life-after-death experience - 2/29/08
Former Harlanite helps save life of student who collapsed - 1/17/08
Student Recovers after Collapsing at School
Student's crisis a reminder of lifesaving measures
Teachers Save Student's Life
Girl saves ref's life 12/18/07
College athlete's heart attack brings cardiac concern to light 11/22/07
Davison school staffers recognized for saving student's life - 10/14/2007
Student's life saved by quick response during class
Joe Heskett has sudden heart surgery - 10/3/07
Teen Recovers After Collapsing On Basketball Court
Iowa Basketball Player Revived With Defibrillator
Saved Student Pushes for AEDs
Latest Sudden Cardiac Death Research and Related Articles
Enlarged heart biggest cause of sudden death in young athletes; experts want more screening 11/6/07
Experts Tie Enlarged Heart, Sudden Death -11/7/07
Enlarged heart chief cause of athletes' sudden death - 11-6-07
Designed to deliver life-saving jolts, devices are too often hidden
Fallen PRP player's mother still wonders 'why?'
Russian's death sends chill through hockey world
FIFA extends compulsory heart testing program
Lets Improve Medical Screening
CPR Can Save a Life
Young Athletes Who were Suddenly Stricken
Do More to Protect Our Children
Preventing sports tragedies
Developing Successful Public Access Defibrillator Programs
The New Face of CPR
How Workplace Safety Training Programs and Corporate AED Programs Can Save Lives and Liability Claim
DEFIBRILLATORS - More life-savers around, but some afraid to use them
With defibrillators close, more lives saved
Heart of the Matter - AEDs 'Absolutely Necessary' To Have In Schools - 7/5/08
Study Recommends All Sports Players To Be Screened For Heart Defect
State Laws on Heart Attacks, Cardiac Arrest & Defibrillators
Stealthy, deadly condition stalks student athletes
Protecting Athletes and their Hearts
CPR training must be taught in high school
Weak hearts a danger for athletes
When Sudden Death Strikes
6th Grade Students to undergo heart tests
Unified national effort needed to save lives by increasing use of CPR
Sudden Death in Athletes
A tragic death on the track leaves many questions
Youth heart ailments are target