SEBASTIAN, Florida — A Florida student-athlete who collapsed and died while walking off the basketball court last weekend had heart abnormalities, autopsy results show.
Kamaree Lyons was a student at Sebastian River High School. He was 17 years old.
The Indian River County Medical Examiner's office said more tests need to be completed, and the case is still pending.
The tragedy has mothers, who've been directly impacted by heart issues in their children, warning other parents to get their kids screened.
"She has something bad in her heart that had to be operated on immediately, and that's actually what saved her life," said Adriana Benitez, whose daughter had an unknown heart condition. "I didn't know. Nobody knew."
Nearly two years ago, Benitez took her teenage daughter to a free heart screening hosted by the Jessica Clinton MVP foundation. It was a coincidence, as she found out about the event through her other daughter's teacher. By all accounts, her daughter was a healthy student-dancer. Turns out she needed open heart surgery.
"When the doctor found out she was dancing every day for five hours a day, he said, 'no, she has to stop right now," said Benitez.
Her life was saved by another mother's action. Nearly 15 years ago, Cheryl Lalloo lost her daughter, Jessica, a cheerleader. She's started a foundation in her memory.
"She was practicing for the homecoming game, and they took a break She went into sudden cardiac arrest and passed away right at school," said Lalloo. "There was no AED at the school."
She now fights for AEDs in all schools, parks and public places.
"Once we found out a small machine saved her, we knew what we had to do," she said.
Benitez credits the free screening with saving her daughter's life.
"It was a blessing," said Benitez. "They saved our life and her life too."
The Jessica Clinton MVP Foundation will have another free heart screening at the St. Lucie County Health Department on Nov. 3. To find out more information on registration, for kids aged 5 to 20, can go to www.jessicaclinton.org.
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