WV basketball player collapses and dies

[jenrik2714]

WVHS athlete collapses, dies during hoops tournament
Family suspects an enlarged heart is to blame for sudden death


June 24, 2008Recommend

By Patrick Mooney sun-times news group
There were no hints this could happen to Zamarri Doby.

Listed at 6 feet, 5 inches, his 250-pound frame pointed directly to his athletic potential, and nothing in the family's medical history would have suggested his stunning death Sunday after collapsing during a basketball tournament in Plainfield.

The Will County coroner's office is investigating the death of the Waubonsie Valley High School student-athlete. Results from Monday's autopsy were not released pending toxicology testing, the coroner's office reported. But according to family members, the 16-year-old's cause of death was an enlarged heart.


» Click to enlarge image

Waubonsie Valley's Zamarri Doby, 16, shoots a jumper during a game on Dec. 29. He died Sunday at Provena St. Joseph’s Hospital in Joliet after playing in an AAU tournament game at Plainfield South High School.
(STNG file photo)
Zamarri, an Aurora resident, spoke to his father, Marvin, on the phone before his final game Sunday, and "he sounded in good spirits, ready to play ball." But about five minutes into an AAU basketball tournament game at Plainfield South High School, Kent Robinson, head coach of the Illinois T-Wolves 16-and-under team, watched his player go into what looked like a seizure.
"I look at each of the kids I coach as a son," Robinson said. "It's a tough time for me and the parents right now."

Doby collapsed after running up and down the court a few times. Robinson said two nurses at the gym aided Doby until an ambulance arrived to transport him to Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet. Attempts to revive him through CPR failed, his aunt Sharon Doby said, and "he never did come back."

Doby played football at Waubonsie and appeared in 13 varsity basketball games last season as a sophomore, averaging 4.1 points and 2.5 rebounds per game.

"It's such a tragedy that a young man loses his life at such a young age," Waubonsie basketball coach Steve Weemer said. "Our hearts and prayers go out to the family. We're mourning with them."

Doby's death -- if indeed it is attributable to an enlarged heart -- is part of a larger trend. An Associated Press report filed after the November 2007 death of 28-year-old Ryan Shay during the men's marathon U.S. Olympic trials in New York indicated that an enlarged heart is "the biggest cause of sudden death among young athletes."

Waubonsie Principal Jim Schmid called this a tragedy for the school's entire community. The Doby family is working on funeral arrangements tentatively scheduled for Saturday, as well as a memorial fund to help defray some of the costs.

The family also is hoping to expand the physical examination process and raise awareness of electrocardiograms, the test that may have been able to help detect Doby's heart problem years ago.

"These should be taken care of," Marvin Doby said. "They're not checking deep enough."

[Arch]

OMG, I'm so sorry. Prayers out to the family.

[doctorwho]

So very, very sad when a young person passes. No amount of sports physicals can catch hidden issues. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and AAU & Warrior teammates.

[Arch]

Echo's are not part of the normal screenings for physicals... Unfortunately too, they are expensive and usually not done unless there is an underlying reason or suspicion to have one.

[proschool]

This is terrible news. My heart goes out to his mother, his father and his family.

My brother died suddenly at age 38 with an enlarged heart and I remember the anguish that it caused but we had twenty two more years than this family had. I can't imagine how this feels unbearable to them.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a tragic killer of young people. It can be screened with a noninvasive echocardiogram. Most often these kids have high blood pressure.

Cardiologists are trying to get ahead of the curve. This board has discussed a program in which cardiologists are screening entire athletic programs with ECG's. it can be done inexpensively ion this way. They are doing in in District 203. I think we should push for it in 204.

Also I don't see any mention of an External Automatic Defibrilator (AED). being present in the article. I am surprised AED's are not available in every gym and at every atlethic event. Every coach in 204 should be trained in their use. They only cost $1500 and they are no larger than a personal computer.

[doctorwho]

Jun 24, 2008 8:17:15 GMT -6 Arch said:

Echo's are not part of the normal screenings for physicals... Unfortunately too, they are expensive and usually not done unless there is an underlying reason or suspicion to have one.

Echo'srun $1000 - $2000 and unless there is a 'reason' to have one run, I am sure they are not covered by insurance under preventative. My understanding is that a less expensive ECG might spot an enlarged heart that then would require an ECHO. I will defer to med docs here, but my understanding is that a somewhat enlarged heart is also the sign of a well conditioned athlete. Is that true ?

ETA: acknowledge Proschool posted the ECG recommendation before this post. It is something we should maybe write to 204on,especially ifthereis a precedence set in 203 having it done.

As the parent of 2 children that are/were extensively trained, this surely is a topic that concerns me. My oldest was never required to take an ECG before playing in college either. I wonder if any programs do ? Especially for non revenue producing sports.

[sardines]

Jun 24, 2008 8:38:02 GMT -6 proschool said:

This is terrible news. My heart goes out to his mother, his father and his family.

My brother died suddenly at age 28 with an enlarged heart and I remember the anguish that it caused but we had twelve more years than this family had. I can't imagine how this feels unbearable to them.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a tragic killer of young people. It can be screened with a noninvasive echocardiogram. Most often these kids have high blood pressure.

Cardiologists are trying to get ahead of the curve. This board has discussed a program in which cardiologists are screening entire athletic programs with ECG's. it can be done inexpensively ion this way. They are doing in in District 203. I think we should push for it in 204.

Also I don't see any mention of an External Automatic Defibrilator (AED). being present in the article. I am surprised AED's are not available in every gym and at every atlethic event. Every coach in 204 should be trained in their use. They only cost $1500 and they are no larger than a personal computer.

Proschool,
You are correct.Every school should have more than one AED. I know WV has two and the AT's are trained in their use (they are actually pretty self explanatory...I almost had to use one once). Our AT's fought for these and got help from the Boosters. It's imperative. I noticed on the new IHSA physicals they screen for Marfan's Syndrome. This is tied in to an enlarged heart. My recollection is that these folks are usually taller than average, and often have long arms and legs (basketball build if you will). It is also genetically passed down through families.
An EKG seems as though it would be fairly cost effective but it really depends on the skill and experience of the Dr. reading the results accurately to pick up the "red flag" tracings (p waves in relation to qrs waves....you get the idea) Echo is the true determiner and expensive!

[proschool]

I am glad that they have the EAD's at 204 buildings. They may not be in every facilities that our teams travel to. If that is true I suggest that teams carry these along with them as part of their travelling equipment.

ECG's might be less exponsive if the SD and volunteers take the leadership in making sure that the process is organized and well staffed. Having the doctors office organize things can be a lot to ask,.

[doctorwho]

Jun 24, 2008 10:14:06 GMT -6 proschool said:

I am glad that they have the EAD's at 204 buildings. They may not be in every facilities that our teams travel to. If that is true I suggest that teams carry these along with them as part of their travelling equipment.

ECG's might be less exponsive if the SD and volunteers take the leadership in making sure that the process is organized and well staffed. Having the doctors office organize things can be a lot to ask,.

True, like for the last 3-4 years we have had the sports physicals done at Edward as they were organized by SD203. Usually on a Saturday - all day, and it was very organized, as they moved from station to station for different parts- then to meet with a physician who reviewed all items. So my child's physical was on a form that read 203 ( I asked and they were fine with it @ Hill ). I asked why not a 204 day, and the best answer I got from Edward was 204 did not choose to participate.

[proschool]

Jun 24, 2008 13:14:05 GMT -6 doctorwho said:

Jun 24, 2008 10:14:06 GMT -6 proschool said:

I am glad that they have the EAD's at 204 buildings. They may not be in every facilities that our teams travel to. If that is true I suggest that teams carry these along with them as part of their travelling equipment.

ECG's might be less exponsive if the SD and volunteers take the leadership in making sure that the process is organized and well staffed. Having the doctors office organize things can be a lot to ask,.

True, like for the last 3-4 years we have had the sports physicals done at Edward as they were organized by SD203. Usually on a Saturday - all day, and it was very organized, as they moved from station to station for different parts- then to meet with a physician who reviewed all items. So my child's physical was on a form that read 203 ( I asked and they were fine with it @ Hill ). I asked why not a 204 day, and the best answer I got from Edward was 204 did not choose to participate.

That's good to know did your kids get a ECG?

[slp]

It was my understanding the Midwest Heart Foundation has started some type of athlete screening for HCM and other heart abnormalities. I will look into this and report back.

ETA: here it is:

www.midwestheart.org/screening_scd.html

this appears to be an excellent resource for our athletes. I think 204 should be in contact with this organization and become involved. Does anyone have a suggestion as to who i could contact to bring this program to the attention of our district?

[doctorwho]

Jun 24, 2008 14:17:15 GMT -6 proschool said:

Jun 24, 2008 13:14:05 GMT -6 doctorwho said:

True, like for the last 3-4 years we have had the sports physicals done at Edward as they were organized by SD203. Usually on a Saturday - all day, and it was very organized, as they moved from station to station for different parts- then to meet with a physician who reviewed all items. So my child's physical was on a form that read 203 ( I asked and they were fine with it @ Hill ). I asked why not a 204 day, and the best answer I got from Edward was 204 did not choose to participate.

That's good to know did your kids get a ECG?

they did recommend some children - based on factors get them -- ( family history / bloodpressure / etc> -not sure all the criteria used. My youngest had one done last year - that was the only time so far.

[slp]

There is a CAR WASH scheduled for July 19th At the Jewel near Eola to benefit this young man's family. I don't recall the time of the car wash, but the info. is on the WVHS scrolling sign out front of the main campus.