The Story and Purpose of the Kittim N. Sherrod Foundation

Note: This post is written by Razeenah Walker, Founder and President of the Kittim N. Sherrod Foundation. Phosphorus recently collaborated with the Foundation during Kittim Sherrod Week in April–a series of heart health events in Edison, NJ. One of the event’s speakers was Phosphorus’ own Chief Scientific Officer, Oscar Puig, who discussed blood genetics and the importance of testing for heart health. Phosphorus is proud to share the story behind the Foundation and the important work going on at the organization.
___

Nine years ago, on April 30, 2009, the Creator called home our precious angel, Kittim N. Sherrod. The football season was over, and my grandson’s senior year at Edison high school was likewise winding to a close. Kittim had been working hard to prepare a highlight tape for college scouts–another step toward his dream of one day securing a spot in the NFL. Through it all, he acted with a keen sense of humility and perseverance.

Kittim possessed a beautiful energy. As the captain of his football team, he led with a dedicated spirit and a servant’s heart. He knew full well that there is no success without determination. This awareness had carried him forward from the age of 4, as he diligently studied the classic strategies of Pop Warner–one of the fathers of modern American football. Pop’s wisdoms were further cultivated by Kittim’s coaches, who perfected Kittim’s gamesmanship and helped him develop into a mature player. Yet, Kittim’s gentle soul was always present, as his peers and anyone who knew him could attest to. He had a genuine love for both the sport and the people involved in it.

Two days before hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) claimed his life, Kittim mentioned he wasn’t feeling well. He had lost his appetite and couldn’t sleep. His mother (my daughter) took him to his regular pediatrician, where he was told to see an ENT (ear, nose, and throat specialist). Despite speculation that his discomfort might be due to changes in his normal routine, something just wasn’t right. Two days later, while running track, Kittim collapsed and died.

The Edison community was devastated. We were in a state of shock and had no idea how to take in the enormous tragedy. How could this have happened? The life of a tall, strong, commanding athlete was gone. As our family and the community tried to escape the reality of never seeing Kittim again, we turned our minds to the mysterious cause of death that had taken his life.

At the scene of Kittim’s death, there had initially been no medical assistance, because no one was equipped to handle such a situation. A fireman eventually showed up to attempt resuscitation, but it was too late. We had not been prepared for HCM–this silent, deadly disease. After Kittim’s passing, my mind was obsessively fixated on improving the medical preparedness of our children’s schools, in the hopes that by providing the necessary resources to respond to HCM in the future, no other family would have to undergo a similar experience. I found immediate support from local community leaders, school officials, and even the media as we began our campaign to spread awareness for both Kittim and HCM.

Through media interviews, I began to reach outside of our community. The loss of Kittim’s precious life was tragic, but it would not be in vain. We now had a chance to learn from tragedy and keep other youth alive. I felt that the Creator had a message. I began on a crusade to save our children, working through my grief, sorrow, and pain to focus on protecting our youth. A student may seem perfectly healthy, but it’s impossible to know without medical insight. I wanted to impart this knowledge to others.

By telling Kittim’s story to local legislators, I and others at the Kittim N. Sherrod (KNS) Foundation helped get CPR education and AEDs into our schools. We worked to promote free heart and concussion screenings for community athletes, and we set up walks and assemblies to inform youth and their families about sudden death. We began to hold a “Get Fit for Heart Zumba-thon” at Edison High School each year in February. We also started a “Live With Heart” award in Kittim’s memory to help assist one eligible high school senior each year achieve his goal of playing college football. And importantly, I began to speak at press conferences to support those who were also on the path to understanding the sudden death phenomenon.

Today, we at the KNS Foundation are continuing to heighten awareness of sudden cardiac arrest/death. Every year, roughly 325,000 people in America experience sudden cardiac arrest, and 9 out of 10 perish as a result1. We also know that as much as it’s happening throughout the world, our children do not get adequate media coverage. An enormous amount of families must grieve a loved one whose death might have been prevented with advance knowledge of sudden cardiac arrest. Although Kittim had the regular physicals required by football guidelines, as well as other personal physician appointments, HCM showed its ugly head and snatched the life of our beloved footballer.

The KNS Foundation will continue to enlighten the communities about sudden cardiac death and HCM. We want citizens to realize how important it is to learn CPR and install AEDs nearby in order to quickly assist anyone experiencing a cardiac event. Likewise, parents must take a closer look at their children’s heath to understand their hidden anatomy, so they can adopt a proactive approach and keep their children safe through heart screenings. Our children are our future.

This week is Kittim’s birthday, and I am full of many emotions. Telling his story 9 years after his passing in order to help others is the ultimate healing tool for our family and our Foundation.
___

The Kittim N. Sherrod Foundation is a tax-exempt non-profit organization established in 2011 that supports research and awareness programs related to sudden cardiac arrest, with an emphasis on Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM). Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy is a genetic condition in which the heart muscle becomes abnormally thick, which can lead to abnormal heart rhythms or heart failure in some individuals. To learn more, please visit the Foundation’s website at http://www.kittimnsherrodfoundation.org/.

Footnotes:
1“Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics — 2015 Update.” Mozaffarian, Dariush et al. Circulation. 2014;CIR.0000000000000152, originally published December 17, 2014 https://doi.org/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000152