(WFSB) – Before high school athletes in Connecticut take the field in the fall, they must undergo a medical exam. But one Windsor family learned that a medical exam doesn’t necessarily mean a student is safe to play.
Standing at 6’5″ and weighing over 290 pounds, 15-year-old Elijah Rivera was already beginning to develop his own strength.
“He was the youngest and the tallest,” said Jay Rivera, Elijah’s father. “He literally ripped the handle off the microwave as he was opening it.”
Elijah learned to channel his power as a football player at Windsor High School. He collapsed during practice on October 10, 2023.
“I was there within minutes. I was there within 2, 3 minutes,” Jay Rivera said. “It all happened so fast. It was kind of hard to remember all of that.”
Elijah died in the hospital. His family later learned that Elijah had an enlarged heart. Elijah had passed the required physical fitness test the previous summer.
“When we talk about physical fitness testing, it’s more of a checklist at the moment. I think there needs to be more for kids,” Rivera said.
The physical fitness test required for student-athletes in Connecticut includes a family history questionnaire and an examination by a physician.
Dr. Allison Crepeau was not Elijah’s doctor. She is an orthopedic surgeon who specializes in pediatric sports medicine. She explained what the pre-participation physical does.
“They just check vision, hearing and vital signs and then a cardiac and pulmonary exam. There’s a basic orthopedic exam to check all the joints and make sure there are no major problems,” said Dr. Allison Crepeau. “Basically they check the pulse and breathing and then they listen to the heart and listen for heart murmurs or abnormal heart rhythms and things like that.”
Dr. Crepeau says if the exam reveals a risk factor, the next step would be an EKG or electrocardiogram, which is an ultrasound scan of the heart.
“That’s one of the things I think you should talk to your pediatrician about. It’s one of the things that hopefully gets covered in the family history section if there are any concerns,” Crepeau said. “Currently, it’s not mandated in Connecticut because it just hasn’t worked out that every single student has to have it done unless there are concerns.”
Assemblywoman Nicole Klarides-Ditria says the idea of mandating additional cardiac testing for student-athletes has been studied several times in the Connecticut legislature. She says the studies have not resulted in legislation due to cost concerns.
“It’s a question of insurance. Insurance does not cover this as a preliminary medical examination,” said Klarides-Ditria. “It would have been a huge cost to the families, especially if it had not been covered by insurance.”
Jay Rivera says the doctor never suggested further cardiac tests for his son, which could have potentially saved his son’s life.
“It shouldn’t be an insurance company or anyone saying we’re not going to pay for it because it’s not necessary,” Rivera said. “I think we should know more about how these kids and their bodies respond before we send them out on the soccer field or the basketball court.”
Rivera hopes that Elijah’s power will improve our understanding of sudden cardiac death.
“Let’s talk about it. Let’s talk about it more openly. Let’s discuss it because it’s out there and it’s something we need to be aware of,” Rivera said.
The Riveras are working on establishing a foundation called Always 65, which will focus on educating parents and schools about the signs of sudden cardiac arrest.
In Connecticut, there are nonprofit organizations that offer free cardiac screenings for student-athletes.
Branford will open a clinic next month that will offer free health screenings for student-athletes.
This is part 2 of an investigation into student-athlete safety in Connecticut. Click here for part 1.
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