Life returning to normal for Haags

Life is getting a little more normal for Justin Haag and his family these days.

His mother, Annette, said things are going great, he is in good spirits and he can do most normal activities, except his arm is in a sling to protect the leads to the defibrillator that was implanted last week. He returned home to Orofino Saturday after stopping at the District Basketball Tournament where he received a hero's welcome.

Justin, a sophomore basketball player from Orofino High School, collapsed during the final seconds of the District Basketball Tournament in Lewiston Wednesday. A doctor and paramedic in the audience performed CPR until a few minutes later Lewiston Fire Department paramedics arrived with a defibrillator and shocked his heart back into rhythm. Annette said the quick response of the doctor and paramedic, as well as the Lewiston department kept her son from having any brain damage from the incident.

Justin was taken by ambulance to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Lewiston and later airlifted to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane, WA. There an MRI was performed, followed by surgery to implant the defibrillator.

Justin is scheduled for follow-up tests in two weeks in Spokane to see exactly what caused his heart to go into ventricular defibrillation. The collapse was particularly chilling because only 1 ½ years earlier Justin's brother, Trevor had collapsed and died while motorcycle racing in Kamiah.

Annette said the doctors are anticipating that the test will show Long QT Syndrome the same as the problem they found Trevor had after his death. Unfortunately for Trevor, there was no defibrillator close by. It is a condition that some teen athletes experience that suddenly causes their hearts to go into ventricular defibrillation. She said the only way to start their hearts again is with a defibrillator.

It will be a 16th birthday to remember Friday for Justin. Annette said a party is being planned at the OHS cafetorium. Instead of presents the organizers are asking that people make donations to purchase Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) for Orofino's schools since that is where the athletes spend a lot of their time, especially during sporting events.

Annette said that there are starting to be AEDs in malls in this region. They can be used by nearly anyone to save a life. After they are turned on, they give verbal step-by-step instructions on how use them.

Photo: Justin Haag and his father, Tracy during halftime of the District Basketball Tournament in Lewiston Saturday evening.