AED Saved Huntley Boy's Life

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By Kenneth Wong

Story Published: Mar 15, 2011 at 6:16 PM MDT

Story Updated: Mar 16, 2011 at 3:36 PM MDT

BILLINGS - It was a normal day for 13-year-old Brooks Beler at Huntley Project Junior High School. That all changed during one of his classes.

"I just remember being in science, standing up and just falling over," said Brooks. Brooks had just collapsed from a heart condition.

"Brooks has always had this condition. It's called Cardiomyopathy," said Maggle Beler, Brook's mother. "The school has been very, very good about knowing his condition."

Cardiomyopathy is a disease involving the heart's muscles. In Brooks' case, his heart muscles are thickening, which will impede normal heart function. Brooks inherited the disorder from his father, according to his mother.

After Brooks collapsed in class, two teachers at the school gave Brooks CPR. It was not enough to revive Brooks, however. When firefighters arrived at the school, they had with them a piece of equipment that eventually revived him. "They used the AED, and they shocked him twice, so he came to," Beler said.

AED is an acronym for "Automated External Defibrillator". Since it gives detailed instructions on what to do, it allows those without CPR or defibrillation equipment training to shock a person's heart back to health. Usually, when CPR and defibrillation are administered right after a person collapsed from a heart condition, their survival probability increases. "With the combination of the two, your chances of having an intact person at the end of this kind of event is much better," said Dr. James Wiggins, a pediatric cardiologist at St. Vincent.

While Brooks knows what happened, he remembers very little of what had happened between the time he fainted, and the time he woke up at the hospital. He, along with his mother, are thankful for what the teachers did. "I want to thank my teachers for helping me, for making sure I was OK and everything," Brooks said, as his mother sat nearby, relieved that her son is OK.

Brooks is scheduled to have an internal defibrillator installed at a Seattle hospital. Afterwards, he will return to school in Huntley, where he is looking forward to playing some golf.

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Sally Sharp said on Saturday, Apr 2 at 10:14 AM

Brooks, I had a similar experience back in January. I coded in my classroom..tnankfully, my fellow co-workers and nurses saved my life with an AED. I got a ICD a couple of days after the attack. I am doing great now, and back teaching my second graders! Hang in there buddy, so glad you are okay! I am working on making it mandated in my state to have at least one AED in every public school. This life-saving change needs to happen. Take care, and God Bless You!

Barbie Eakins said on Wednesday, Mar 16 at 10:46 PM

Brook, you are in our prayers and we know everything will go great. Love you Buddy and I hope you get back on your feet soon! Love you! Stay strong!!

Tina Denowh said on Wednesday, Mar 16 at 12:12 PM

So glad you're doing better Brooks, my prayers are with you and your mom that your procedure goes wonderfully!! You are an amazing kid!

JESSICA GONZALEZ said on Wednesday, Mar 16 at 10:21 AM

WISH WE COULD BE THERE WITH YOU GUYS! YOU ARE IN OUR PRAYERS AND HEARTS! SENDING LOTS OF LOVE FROM CALIFORNIA! JJ,AND GIRLS (AND THE REST OF THE FAM IN CALI!)

Brandon Gonzalez said on Wednesday, Mar 16 at 9:27 AM

God Bless Brooks wish I could have been there! Love and miss you guys!

L garcia said on Tuesday, Mar 15 at 11:39 PM

Good luck. I have a defibrillator,had it over years an doing fine, God Bless.

realestateemt said on Tuesday, Mar 15 at 7:16 PM

Great story! But I don't think "his heart muscles are thinkening." Shouldn't that be thickening?

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