Quick Action by JCU Sports Medicine Saves a Life

The Place You Want to Be But then at halftime, Radley suddenly collapsed near the John Carroll Sports Medicine staff. The importance of the game immediately vanished as a hush fell over the DeCarlo Center. Enter Michelle Fowler, AT, ATC and Dr. Breanna Kebort.  Fowler is a consistent presence at JCU sporting events, a 12-year JCU veteran. A Senior Athletic Trainer for Cleveland Clinic Sports Medicine, Fowler supports JCU Women's Basketball and Women's Soccer, but has covered just about every varsity sport at the school.  Dr. Kebort is a Conneaut Lake, Pennsylvania native, a newbie to the JCU scene. She's served as a Cleveland Clinic Sports Medicine fellow since July 2021. Kebort has a variety of medical experiences, and is emergency-room trained, so she's used to life-threatening situations.  Despite feeling fine before the game (except for what he thought was a bit of indigestion), Radley had gone into cardiac arrest. Fowler and Kebort acted quickly, utilizing CPR then an automated external defibrillator (AED). "This was a first for me," said Fowler. "The adrenaline got going and we just went to work. I'm a CPR instructor, and I had just taught a CPR class that morning at JCU." Fowler and Kebort's quick actions helped to stabilize Radley before University Heights emergency services arrived on the scene.  "When it's crunch time, it's amazing how good people step up," Radley said. "Everyone I spoke with about it said that's the place you want to be when something like this happens. You're only 10 minutes away from the hospital, too." A Second Opportunity  Just a week later, Radley returned to the DeCarlo Center. The quick medical attention saved his life, and doctors at the hospital quickly had Radley feeling close to his old self.  "I hadn't met [Fowler and Kebort] previously. I knew that the Cleveland Clinic employed a doctor and trainer on site, but didn't know them personally," said Radley. "Despite not knowing me, they were right there for me, though I don't remember it.  "When Michelle texted to check on me, I said, 'When I meet you, I'm going to hug you, you're my angels.' Michelle told me she's not a hugger, but she gave me a genuine, heartfelt hug. I could tell what genuine people Michelle and Breanna are. They really enjoy their jobs, and they're wonderful women."  Thanks to his heroic angels, Radley now has a second chance to enjoy life.  The Mentor resident is a father of two and the grandfather of four with his high school sweetheart, Karen, now his wife of 45 years. Their son, Derek, is the head women's golf coach at the University of Oregon and a certified PGA Class A Professional. Derek married Sara Brown, an LPGA tour pro, once serving as her coach and caddie. The couple now has three children: Palmer, Ryder, and Azalea. Radley's daughter, Dana, is a pre-K teacher for students with special needs, and is married to a Fire Department Lieutenant. They have one young daughter, Ella.  "We're having the best time of our life. It's wonderful being a grandparent," said Radley. "I have a wonderful life with a beautiful family, I'm so grateful. My daughter said it was all pre-planned by God. I was feet from the AED, I was fortunate to be given a second chance, because you don't want to go to your grave wishing you would have done this and that. [OAC Coordinator of Officials] Diane [Plas] asked me to send a few words out to the officials in the conference. I told them to take care of each other and tell your families you love them unconditionally." Radley plans to fully take advantage of his second chance. Given the okay to travel by his doctor, Radley plans to do some adventuring soon.  Radley plans to attend Augusta National Women's Amateur, hosted by the course that's home to the Master's. One of Derek Radley's golfers received an invite to play, and Derek will be her caddy. Soon after, Tim will head to Eugene, Oregon, as Derek Radley and the Ducks will host the PAC 12 Championships at Eugene Country Club. After that, Tim will head to Dayton to see Disney on Ice with his granddaughter, Ella. He also hopes to get back on the court soon.

Take That CPR Class Thanks to quick action with CPR and an AED, Radley is still with us. His story only highlights the importance of being prepared.  "It's important to stay calm, which is easier said than done," said Dr. Kebort. "For non-medically trained professionals, you need to recognize when a person is down, make sure it's safe, then hurry up and tell someone to call for help so someone medically trained can help you. Knowing how an AED works is important. The quicker you can provide care, the better the chance of survival." Taking a CPR class is vital, as you could very well save a person's life.  "I would hope that everyone who reads this goes out and gets CPR trained," Fowler said. "In our case, it worked out well and was effective. With an AED, it makes it as simple as possible. There are pictures and loud, clear instructions. Don't be afraid to use them. We've added more at JCU this year. It's important to know where they're at, and check the AED in advance to ensure it works in the event of an emergency." Radley is certainly thankful for Fowler and Kebort, as their quick actions in the moment were heroic and life-saving.  "I'm so thankful to those two for my life. They're wonderful, wonderful women."  Media Coverage:  

Fox 8: "Trainer, team doctor credited with saving referee who collapsed during John Carroll University game" News 5 Cleveland: John Carroll training staff's quick thinking saves ref's life

News-Herald: Referee from Mentor thankful for John Carroll medical team's efforts after near-death experience