Coordinating local projects to benefit heart association

A little over a year ago, Mike and Beth Respess suffered a tragedy no parent should ever have to live through - their son, 16 year-old Jonathan Michael Respess, died.

Jonathan, a member of Fayette County High School's junior varsity basketball squad, had practiced with the team, come home, spent time with his family and gone to bed, just as he would have on most other normal days. While he seemed a little tired, neither he, his parents, nor his coach noticed anything to cause concern.

Jonathan died unexpectedly in his sleep of a sudden cardiac arrest due to heart arrhythmia.

Jonathan was in the Beta Club, played trombone and the piano and was active in his church, the Community Christian Church Disciples of Christ in Fayetteville. He was a popular and well-respected student.

Parents who lose a child channel their grief in many different ways. Mike and Beth Respess and their two daughters, Laura, 21, & Sarah, 19, have chosen to do what they can to help prevent other families from going through the same tragedy. They have teamed up with the American Heart Association and are getting involved.

Mike has joined the board of the local Fayette County American Heart Association and is spearheading “Team Jonathan.” He has enlisted the aid of twenty of Jonathan's friends and teammates to help raise money and awareness to fight heart diseases. As the word spreads, more of Jonathan's friends are joining in to help.

Jonathan suffered from a disturbance of the electrical system of the heart — something that is happening with increasing frequency in young people who appear to be healthy, just as Jonathan did. All of the funds being raised by Team Jonathan will be used to support research in heart arrhythmia and to increase the public's awareness of the effect of heart arrhythmia on young people.

Some conditions can be detected with tests, such as EKGs, and can be treated with medications. Education and research can save lives.

Team Jonathan is currently working with Fayette Community Hospital, Occumed Medical Management in Peachtree City, the Fayette County Board of Education and many other volunteers to host a number of events in Fayette County to raise money to combat the disease, and to raise awareness.

This Saturday, July 1, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. members of Team Jonathan will be at the Pavilion Wal-Mart in Fayetteville washing cars. The group is also in the planning stages of a talent show, a local fun run, a health fair in conjunction with Fayette County High School, Fayette Community Hospital and Occumed Medical Management, and they are forming a team for the American Heart Association's Heart Walk to be held later this year.

To get involved with Team Jonathan, contact the American Heart Association at 770-952-1316; Mike Respess, Team Jonathan Coordinator at 770-719-0828; or Janet McGregor, president of the Fayette County American Heart Association, at 770-631-9503.

Donations for Team Jonathan can be made at any Bank of America across the United States. Ask for the Team Jonathan account.