MAHAHF News

Pick a Pumpkin for a PURPOSE
Fundraiser

The Michael Abt, Jr. Have a Heart Foundation is hosting a pumpkin selling fundraiser where you can pick among many pumpkins, some already carved and decorated for your Halloween Holiday. Some delicious delights will also be available for donations.
Michael Christopher Abt, Jr., without any warning, died of a sudden cardiac arrest on March 10, 2006 at the age of 12 years old. He was a perfectly healthy, happy, active, fit young man. The day he died, he was on the PE field at his school and just collapsed on the field.

The “Michael Abt, Jr. Have a Heart Foundation," raises funds to provide AED's (Automatic External Defibrillators) to public schools nationwide. It is our belief that this simple machine may have been able to save Michaels life. The funds from this foundation will provide AED's first to schools which do not already have them as well as secondary units to schools with large campuses. These devices weigh less than five pounds and cost approximately $1,500.00 each.
Just as important as the presence of the AED is the importance of educating the staff of the schools how to maintain and use them. The funds raised for this foundation may also provide training for school staff in the use of these life saving machines. It is said they are so simple to use that a 10 year old could learn how to operate one in less than 10 minutes. The key to successful use of an AED is a Plan of action.
If you wish to donate to this fund, an account has been set up with Indian River National Bank in Sebastian, Florida. Checks should be made out to “The Michael Abt Jr., Have a Heart Fund,” and can be mailed directly to the bank at 816 U.S. Hwy One, Sebastian, FL 32958 or to the letterhead address above.
If you have already made a donation we sincerely appreciate your support. If you are unable to donate to this fund, we understand completely however, whether you decide to donate to this fund or not, WE URGE any of you who volunteer, visit, teach, administrate, or have children , grandchildren, etc. who attend public schools to get involved in your community to ensure that these devises are available at your schools, staff is trained in their use, the AED's are maintained in an easily accessible area well known to all possible operators, batteries are checked on a weekly basis, and most importantly, that a “Plan of Action” is in place .
We hope no one on earth EVER has to experience this tragic heartbreak again. The next life saved, could be someone you love.
So, please come join us to help save lives and have some fun picking out your pumpkin for a PUROSE.

Life for Youth Ranch receives A.E.D.

Michael Abt Jr.'s sister, Nichole Watson gladly hands over the A.E.D to directors of the Life for Youth Ranch Robby and Sherry Stevens.
Provided by: Staff member at LFYR

Contributed by: Nichole Watson on 5/15/2007

The Life for Youth Ranch received an A.E.D. (Automatic External Defibrillator) from the Michael Abt Jr. Have a Heart Foundation on April 24th, 2007. This foundation was started by the Abt family in honor of their 12 year old son who died of sudden cardiac arrest while at school March 10th, 2006. Since the tragedy the foundation has been raising funds to purchase and donate A.E.D.'s and training to schools. Michael Abt. Jr. attended the Life for Youth Ranch in past years for summer camp. Directors Robby and Sherry Stevens contacted the foundation and requested an A.E.D. to be placed in his memory to help save lives. "We have about 600-800 active children who attend our camp every summer and having this A.E.D. on site gives me confidence that we would be prepared if anything were to happen. My wife and I along with most of our staff are all training in C.P.R. and A.E.D. training" says Robby Stevens. Michael Abt Jr.'s sister Nichole Watson personally delivered the A.E.D. to the Life for Youth Ranch. She said, "Hopefully they will never have to use the A.E.D. but it's wonderful that they are taking the steps to be prepared and the most important thing is to have a plan of action in place." If you would like to make a donation to this foundation please mail a check to 1322 U.S. Highway One. Sebastian, FL 32958 or for more information visit www.parentheartwatch.org

Sharks Youth Football League receives A.E.D.

Mary Beth and Chris Hall present the A.E.D. they generously funded from the Michael Abt, Jr. Have a Heart Foundation to Vincent Trionfo, director of the Sebastian Sharks Youth Football League.
Provided by: Nichole Watson

Contributed by: Nichole Watson on 10/9/2007
Responding to a newspaper challenge to the community to match the donation of an Automatic External Defibrillator (A.E.D.) to the Sebastian River Area Little League made by the Michael Abt Jr. Have a Heart Foundation, Chris and Mary Beth Hall of Sebastian Aluminum stepped up to the plate and generously donated the funds to donate an A.E.D. to the Sharks Youth Football Field in Sebastian, Florida. Vincent Trionfo Jr., director of the Sharks Youth Football Field is very happy to receive this life saving device on behalf of the league to have available in case of an emergency. "Even though the Fire Station is right next door, I feel better being prepared with the A.E.D. right here" he said. Contributors Chris and Mary Beth Hall who are long time residents of Indian River County said, "We are just glad we could help with the cause. We are raising our children here and we just want to keep the community safe."
The Michael Abt, Jr. Have a Heart Foundation was started by the family of 12 year old Michael Abt, Jr. who died March 10 th, 2006 of sudden cardiac arrest while at school. Since the foundation was started they have managed to raise enough money to donate twelve A.E.D's to Florida school's and other local venues including two of our local Charter Schools, the Sebastian River Area Little League and the Life for Youth Ranch.
The foundation also raises money to provide free A.E.D. training for area teachers at Florida Heart, an American Heart Association Representative located on U.S. One in Wabasso. Since this offer was made approximately 75 local teachers have taken advantage of this opportunity. "We are happy to provide this service to the community," said Gail Nye, director of Florida Heart.
"We hope to increase the success of the foundation by raising awareness, training, donating A.E.D.'s and eventually have laws passed that ALL Florida schools must have A.E.D.'s and eventually all schools in the United States. That way the chances of survival are better when a tragedy like this occurs," says Taffi Abt, mother of Michael Abt, Jr.
The generosity of the Hall Family is greatly appreciated and the Challenge to match donations continues.

Donation jump starts health program

Defibrillator purchased with private grant

By DEBI FLEMING
For FLORIDA TODAY Life saver.

TITUSVILLE —The death of 15-year-old Cocoa Beach Jr./Sr. High School soccer player Rafe Maccarone on Dec. 1 hasn’t gone unnoticed at Park Avenue Christian Academy in Titusville.

In fact, administrators want to make sure the tragedy isn’t repeated at their school, and have taken steps to ensure the safety of all students through the purchase of an automated external defibrillator.

The machine was purchased through a grant from a private foundation, started by the parents of another student, Michael Christopher Abt Jr., who died from a sudden cardiac arrest in 2006 at age 12.

Taffi Abt, Michael’s mother and the founder of the foundation, delivered the machine to the academy, showing the basics to administrators and the student council.

“This is not just a grant of medical equipment, but it is an opportunity to bring to light some important issues related to physical exams, safety and first-aid, etc., among young people,” said school administrator Enrico Pucci, Jr. “Every year, many kids die or suffer physical damage due to heart-related incidents, and we want to make sure that doesn’t happen to anyone who comes on our campus.”

According to Abt, the machine literally runs itself, “talking” users through the steps of potentially saving lives.

“The machine speaks to you, telling you exactly what to do, and will keep repeating instructions until each step is completed,” Abt said.

About 5,000 children, most of whom are participating in sports, die each year from cardiac arrest, Abt said. “We hope you never have to use the machine, but it’s here if you need it.”

During the next several weeks, school staff will receive in-depth training on using the machine, which will be kept in the gymnasium.

“Over the course of a week, there are literally thousands of people that come through the campus, either to school, church or sporting events,” Pucci said. “There is always a potential that someone would need the machine when you’re dealing with such high numbers of people.”

With all Florida High School Athletic Association schools required by state law to have automated external defibrillators, Abt has been working tirelessly to make sure schools have the machines, that they are in working order and school staff is properly trained in their use.

“The most important thing is to get the portable machines to a downed person’s side,” Abt said. “You should do drills with the machines just like you would do fire drills.”

Being mounted in the gymnasium will assure that the machine is no more than three minutes away from any place on the school/church property, Pucci said.

Family foundation is making a difference

Tragedy often provides opportunities down the road. Such is the cynical nature of the treasure hunting business - and its foremost representative in the Florida Keys, the Fisher family.

Mel Fisher's descendants raise the stakes on giving back in the good times by turning personal misfortune into a charitable cause. They are no strangers to personal loss. Mel Fisher's oldest son Dirk, Dirk's wife, Angel, and diver Rick Gage were lost when their boat capsized while searching for the “mother lode” of the Atocha.

The Fisher family lost another member to tragic - though possibly preventable - circumstances only a few years ago.

Michael Christopher Abt Jr., son of Taffi Fisher-Abt and Michael Abt Sr., died just two years ago when his heart suddenly stopped in gym class. In response, his family founded the Michael Christopher Abt Jr. Have a Heart Foundation, which raises money to purchase automatic external defibrillators for schools nationwide and train staff in their use.

The device automatically diagnoses potentially life-threatening cardiac issues and is able to treat them by shocking the heart back into a normal rhythm. According to the American Red Cross, statistics show that more than 200,000 Americans die of sudden cardiac arrest every year - and up to 50,000 of these deaths could be prevented by immediate defibrillation.

Four days of events at the annual Mel Fisher Days celebrations, celebrating the July 20, 1985, find of the mother lode, raised about $14,000 for the fund this year, and the fund continues to seek donations year-round.

Since May 2006, 12 AEDs (costing about $1,500 each) have been donated by the Michael Christopher Abt Jr. Have a Heart Foundation to Florida schools, including Marathon High School. In addition, the organization said they have persuaded administrators to install AEDs at all Monroe County Schools.

Mel Fisher's story is one of persistence. It took more than 15 years of searching - and cost four people their lives - to find the mother lode of the Atocha.

The money raised by Mel Fisher Days is a drop in the bucket when it comes to outfitting schools nationwide with defibrillators and training staff to use them, but we applaud the Fisher family for raising awareness, working to lessen preventable tragedy and continuing efforts to grow the Have a Heart Foundation.

It is a unique and commendable family that can continue to turn tragedy into treasure, and we are all enriched by the effort.

Today's the day to make a difference. Donations can be made to the Have a Heart Foundation at www.haveaheartformichael.org.

- The Citizen
(The Key West Citizen, August 2008)