The young man has a name

By Rich Brostrom
National Account Manager
Vector Security

I am submitting my Thought Challenge with no intentions of winning. It’s more about me finding a way to heal from the emotional struggle of trying to save a young man’s life and failing. Failing. Saying that word opens up a flood of emotions that I have suppressed deep inside me for the past few months. Just writing the word has probably helped my healing process, but in reality there was nothing anyone could have done.

It was a hot summer day on June 21st. I was working from home and my 8-month- old Weimaraner was pestering me to get some exercise. I had some time before my next conference call so we went down to the park. Across the park was a group of young men playing Ultimate Frisbee Football. I remember thinking to myself how cool the sport looked and how much fun they were having. As I was preparing to leave, I noticed a young man lying contorted on the ground. I thought he was playing around because the others continued their game. After a few seconds I decided to make my way over there and as I did, I kept repeating the words to myself, “Please get up!” I reached the young man within one minute; by that time his friends had gathered around him and one of them was on the phone. I asked if he had suffered heat exhaustion. “No,” one boy said, “He isn’t breathing.” All I remember is making my way through the group and immediately administering CPR. I, along with one of the other young men, was able to keep him alive until the paramedics arrived. They continued trying to revive him on the field, and all the way to the hospital.

I found out later that night that he had passed away. I was shocked and angry. I replayed the situation in my mind for days asking myself, “Could I have reached him sooner?” “Did I perform CPR correctly?” “What else could I have done?” I wanted to meet the family and let them know how sorry I was, and that I did everything I could do; but I didn’t know who they were or how to reach them. I didn’t even know his name. Days later, a friend of mine heard the story and told me that it was his neighbor’s son; a great kid from a great family, active in the youth ministry group and a mentor to young Christian men. I was able to connect with his parents, and going to the funeral added some closure, but I still wondered if I could have done more.

I met with my neighbor, a paramedic, a week after the funeral and I asked him how he deals with the death he encounters on the job. He said, “Rich, my job is to keep them alive until I get them to the hospital. You did that. He was alive when the paramedics took over and he was still alive when they arrived at the hospital. Far too often, I arrive on a scene and people are standing around doing nothing to help. That wasn’t the case in this situation; we all gave this young man a chance to live but there was just a greater power working against us all.”

This young man has a name: Travis. The following is from an article about Travis written by his youth baseball coach, Brad McGirr. “Travis volunteered his services to the Lion’s Heart Service Organization where he earned the President’s Volunteer Service Award, and became a leader with his “Life Group” and High School Ministry at Saddleback Church. He traveled to New Mexico to work on an Indian Reservation, and he raised more than $4,000 to fund his own trip to Rwanda as part of the Orphan & Vulnerable Children Ministry, Soccer Outreach Program.

Travis was passionate about animals, volunteering at the Mission Viejo Animal Shelter and working at Rancho Santa Margarita Animal Hospital. He hoped to become a veterinarian and had recently been accepted to the Animal Science/Pre-Veterinary Medicine Program at Abilene Christian University.

Only 20 years old, Travis passed away suddenly on Friday, June 21, only three weeks after delivering the eulogy at his grandfather’s funeral. He leaves what very few 20 year olds leave behind: a legacy. A legacy of love, kindness, selflessness and service to others.”

As an unexpected encounter – which I am sure Travis had something to do with – I ran into his Mom and Dad. They told me he may have contracted a virus on one of his volunteer trips that attacks his heart when exercising. How ironic; he unknowingly contracted a deadly virus while helping and improving how others lived. They told me they donated his organs to help others in need. As in life, this young man who helped and nurtured others, provided others an opportunity to live as he joined God in Heaven.

Today, I have accepted why God put me in that situation, but I struggle with what it is supposed to mean to me. Maybe I need to recertify my first aid training (which I am currently researching)? Maybe it’s to treasure and cherish my family and friends with the time each of us have left on earth? Or maybe the story was meant to be shared with each one of you so that if you are ever in this situation you will react and offer assistance? I like to think, “All of the above,” and that is my challenge to all of you. Continue to mentor and make a difference in our field, but also in your everyday lives. Maybe ask yourself, “If I died today, did I make a difference in someone’s life?” “How will I be remembered?” “What will be my legacy?” That’s my challenge to myself. The young man I could not save...his name is Travis and he will forever be with me in spirit.