Posted on 07/19/2014

ANAHEIM, CA--Two words separated 17-year-old Morgan Wilson from life and death, her parents believe: if only.

If only the tennis center where she suffered (sudden cardiac arrest) had a defibrillator.

If only someone had administered CPR in the precious minutes before paramedics arrived.

Wilson’s family is trying to prevent others from having the same regrets. The family members are campaigning for more automated external defibrillators, or AEDs, in athletic centers, and they have set up a memorial fund to pay for the cost of others to receive CPR training.

“The EMS was able to get her heart beating again, but there was so much brain damage things started deteriorating,” said Debbie Wilson, Morgan’s mother.

Morgan Wilson died Wednesday, eight days after collapsing outside of the Anaheim Tennis Center where she was taking lessons. She just finished some laps at Boysen Park and was preparing to do some sprints when she suffered cardiac arrest. Her family still doesn’t know why.

Morgan didn’t smoke or drink alcohol. In fact, she was a 5-foot-3 fireball who jumped hurdles, slammed tennis balls and ran cross-country. She was also a goofball who celebrated her half-birthday and learned guitar by watching YouTube so she could sing Miranda Lambert songs around the campfire.

Her family said she was unable to accept her limitations, writing messages on her hands and challenging herself to “bring it.”

“She pushed herself so hard,” Debbie Wilson said.

She even found a way to squeeze a little more life out of death. She signed the donor space on her driver’s license, unbeknownst to her family. Her kidneys and liver saved three lives, according to the OneLegacy recovery agency.

“She’s going to save more lives, too,“ said her mother, referring to the CPR fund, reachable at Esperanza High School. Morgan would have been a senior this year.

“Parents should make sure that those entrusted with their children’s care know CPR and are prepared to administer it,” said a prepared message from the family. “Ask whether their schools and athletic facilities have automatic defibrillators on site. Please, do not be afraid to ask.”

The Anaheim Fire Department crews arrived five minutes and 40 seconds after the 911 call, said Lt. Bob Dunn, a spokesman for the Anaheim police and fire departments.

“We do not believe any lifesaving efforts were being attempted prior to the arrival of paramedics,” Dunn said, responding to questions about whether CPR or defibrillation was administered beforehand. “However, we did receive a 911 call that prompted response of paramedics.”

Dunn declined to say if paramedics used CPR or defibrillators when they arrived, citing medical privacy laws, but he said the team was equipped to do so at the scene.

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SOURCE: Sarah Tully and Tony Saavedra, Orange County Register

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