Antwan experienced Sudden Cardiac Arrest in middle school – leading to a diagnosis of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM). Today, he wants other teens to know that a diagnosis like HCM doesn’t have to hold you back from living your life. He and his mother Raquel are sharing their story to help reach others – “even just one family that we can help” – to help them feel uplifted and supported.

When Antwan was thirteen, he lost consciousness while playing football and experienced Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA), a sudden, unexpected loss of heart function due to an electrical disturbance in the heart. Now, he’s fourteen and thriving – thanks to the quick actions of those around him.

Antwan’s entire school – including teachers, students, the principal, school nurses, and Coach Lane (his football coach) – all helped save Antwan’s life after he collapsed.

“My teammates spotted that I was down,” says Antwan. “They caught up to the coach and he acted immediately. Everyone did their part – even if they didn’t know they were helping, they absolutely were.”

The Sumner County School District had been trained to use an AED just before Antwan’s SCA. “If Antwan had to have this happen, it happened exactly where and when it needed to for him to survive,” says Raquel.

Antwan received multiple shocks from an AED; he was unconscious for ten minutes.

Raquel credits not only the school and staff for Antwan’s survival, but also the team at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

“The staff at Vanderbilt – the doctors, nurses, really everyone – took a huge part in keeping my baby here with me,” says Raquel. “And I am so thankful for the Portland TriStar ER, the first responders who got him to Vanderbilt – they still ask about him to this day.”

Antwan now sees Dr. Aarti Dalal, a pediatric electrophysiologist who’s on the Medical Education Committee at the SADS Foundation.

“Don’t give up on your dream just because you have a disease.”

After his SCA, Antwan was diagnosed with an inherited heart condition called Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, in which the muscle of the heart is thickened. His HCM diagnosis meant that Antwan had to stop playing football.

“He really loves football – all sports, but his passion is football,” says his mother, Raquel. “It gets to him that he can’t play anymore, but he knows that he’s doing it for a good reason.”

Antwan now loves to play video games like 2K25 (an NBA game) and Call of Duty.

“Besides football, we’ve tried to keep everything else the same for him,” says Raquel. “I try not to let his diagnosis hinder him outside of physical activity.”

Raquel says she’s still adjusting to Antwan’s diagnosis each day. To other parents who’ve recently had a child diagnosed with HCM, Raquel says to “stay on the course” of what your life plan is.

“Don’t deter your life’s plan just because something horrible happened,” she says. “You can tweak the path, but still stay with your plan.”

Antwan has a positive attitude towards the future, and encourages other teens who’ve been through a cardiac event like an SCA to keep looking forward.

“Not being able to do what you want while living this life is really, really hard,” says Antwan. “But I’ve figured out how to do other things – and not just stay in the house, either, but go outside and find new ways to have fun. I want to say to all the other teenagers in the world, don’t give up on your dream just because you have a little disease. Keep  going and believe in your dreams.”