HOUSTON \u2013 Beneath the bright lights of NRG Stadium, where dreams are made and heroes are born, Cecil Shorts would race into the end zone, scoring touchdowns for the Houston Texans \u2014 a symbol of strength, agility, and spirit. <\/p>\n
But beyond the roar of the crowd and the thrill of the game, Cecil and his wife Chanel are now embarking on a mission far greater than football.<\/p>\n
Now, they are confronting a hidden killer in our communities \u2014 sudden cardiac arrest \u2014 the number one silent threat to our youth athletes. It\u2019s the leading cause of death among student athletes and tragically, a risk that is hiding behind the smiles of seemingly strong, healthy-looking children.<\/p>\n
Chanel Shorts, co-founder of the \u201cIn God\u2019s Hands\u201d<\/a> project, passionately shares, \u201cSudden cardiac arrest is literally the number one killer of student athletes. We want to raise awareness so that people know the dangers.\u201d<\/p>\n Her husband Cecil echoes that urgency: \u201cThe scary part is, on the outside, the student athlete looks perfectly fine. They\u2019re healthy, athletic, excelling in sports and school. But inside, their heart may be silently suffering and many times, routine physicals just don\u2019t catch it.\u201d<\/p>\n This harsh reality became deeply personal when Chanel\u2019s younger brother, a towering 18-year-old Division Two collegiate basketball player, seemingly invincible, suddenly collapsed during practice.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was having a college workout in the summertime,\u201d Cecil recalls, \u201cSix-five, six-six kid, 200 pounds, physically fit, dunking the basketball, everyone\u2019s pride \u2014 and then, suddenly, boom \u2014 sudden cardiac arrest.\u201d<\/p>\n The aftermath was a long, painful journey. \u201cHe had to relearn everything,\u201d Cecil says, \u201cHow to walk, how to talk, how to use his limbs.\u201d<\/p>\n Chanel adds, \u201cHe was blind at one point. We were terrified he wouldn\u2019t see again.\u201d<\/p>\n Motivated by this life-changing experience, Cecil and Chanel founded \u201cIn God\u2019s Hands,\u201d<\/a> a project dedicated to protecting children from sudden cardiac arrest. They are educating families on life-saving CPR techniques, how to use external defibrillators, and providing free heart screenings via electrocardiogram (ECG) tests.<\/p>\n Now, for the twelfth year in a row, KPRC 2 is partnering with Scott Stephens and The Cody Stephens Foundation to protect your children from sudden cardiac arrest by offering an absolutely free, in-depth, teen heart screening event this weekend.<\/p>\n This screening is open to everyone aged 11 to 22.<\/p>\n On arrival, parents will fill out a simple consent form and share their family\u2019s heart health history. Then, the young participants will undergo a painless ECG test, boys and girls in separate rooms, to detect hidden heart risks.<\/p>\n Results will be available within just a few days. Most importantly, parents and children will receive hands-on CPR training \u2014 a gift of knowledge that could save a life.<\/p>\n Chanel, who has become so passionate about this issue invites all to join her on August 17th in Spring, Texas. \u201cIt\u2019s a big opportunity for people to come, meet us, and learn about \u2018In God\u2019s Hands.\u2019\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n Cecil also plans to attend our heart screening and urges parents to bring their children, \u201cGet your child\u2019s heart tested. It\u2019s crucial. To see what\u2019s happening inside.\u201d<\/p>\n Again, this is a life-saving project being offered by The Cody Stephens Foundation with help from Harris County ESD 11 and takes place this Sunday afternoon, August 17th.<\/p>\n The event runs from 1:00 to 4:00 PM at the Harris County ESD Headquarters, located at 18334 Stuebner Airline Road in Spring.<\/p>\n