Lion Heart Heroes Foundation Information

Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is the number one cause of non-accidental death in the military, particularly among recruits in training. A simple, inexpensive electrocardiogram (EKG), properly interpreted, can uncover hidden heart defects, many of which are treatable. Gold Star parents, John and Laurie Finlayson, joined with other Gold Star parents to start the Lion Heart Heroes Foundation. Their son, LCpl David Finlayson, had collapsed and died of Sudden Cardiac Arrest while on a training run with his battalion in Hawaii. He had been in great health, and the autopsy showed that his heart was normal. However, he had never had an EKG that might have revealed an electrical problem with his heart. Since then, they have met many other parents of service men and women from the Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, and Air Force who died from heart defects that could possibly have been discovered with more thorough heart screening. Lion Heart Heroes Foundation seeks to reduce the incidence of Sudden Cardiac Arrest by advocating for changes in the medical protocols for recruits. We also donate Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to military posts to improve the chance of survival when someone experiences a cardiac event. *SCA costs lives – it’s a human issue. *SCA wastes resources – it’s a budget issue. *SCA jeopardizes military missions – it’s a readiness issue. Please join us in this effort to effect change in the military! Your monetary donation will pay for donations of AEDs at military bases. Your connections might include someone who can influence change in policy!