Haag in stable condition

2-17-05

Wednesday night with 5.8 seconds left in a District basketball game, (Orofino High School against Potlatch High School), Justin Haag, sophomore, collapsed to the floor as his heart stopped.

Team coaches and players came to his assistance and then a call went out from the announcer's booth for any doctor or paramedics to come help. Dr. Pete Crecelius of Orofino and paramedic Nancy Moore from Potlatch rushed from the audience to offer their life saving skills to help Justin until the Lewiston paramedics arrived.

Once Lewiston paramedics stabilized Justin, he was taken to St Joseph Regional Medical Center. According to Jeff Jones, KLER Radio, there were enough fans that came to the emergency room that the nurses had to do some foot traffic control.

Justin was later airlifted to Sacred Heart Medical Center, Spokane, WA where Thursday morning a MRI was done.

Jones stated that the team and coaches made a conference call to Justin this morning and it was reported that it really lifted Justin's spirits.

When the doctors get the results of the MRI, which should be late this afternoon or evening, they plan to do surgery and place a defibrillator in Justin's heart. Surgery will be either this evening or tomorrow morning, depending on when the result of the MRI is known.