By Kari Patron/Staff Writer

Six months after Jace Lance, a Missouri Valley College basketball player, had a cardiac arrest during basketball practice due to an undetected heart condition, his parents brought comprehensive heart screenings to MVC’s campus.

Chad Lance, Jace’s father and MVC’s head basketball coach, and his wife Ellen funded the 500 heart screenings administered last week from Thursday to Sunday. The screenings were open to athletes, students, and members of the Marshall community. This event has been in the works since April of this year during Jace’s recovery from the cardiac arrest.

The screening includes a blood pressure reading, a 12 lead ECG (EKG), and an Echocardiogram. According to My-HearCheck.org, these tests cost around $1,500 when done at a hospital or cardiology office. However, a My-HeartCheck screening costs $149.00, and 500 screenings were administered, which brings the Lance family’s donation to $74,500 dollars.

“We could give all this money to something more permanent,” Ellen said. “It’s not a building, but it’s five hundred kids. You cannot put a price on a kid’s life.” 

A fellow teammate and close friend of Jace, Oliver Pauleon-Gerar, got his heart screening done at this event. Pauleon-Gerar was the first person to notify the coaches when Jace collapsed.

“I had to scream and get all the coaches to come,” Pauleon-Gerar said. “I cried when it happened. I feel like I’ve been praying a lot after that.”

Because of this, Pauleon-Gerar came to the event and got his heart check done.

“You just never know,”  Pauleon-Gerar said. “I thought Jace was the most fit person that could run forever and it happened to him. It does not hurt to get your heart checked. Your health is your wealth.”

Ellen and the rest of the Lance family decided to get involved with organizations like the Strive For Life Foundation, a sponsor for My-HeartCheck, in their journey to learn more about what happened to Jace. This is where they learned that approximately 1 in 100 children are born with heart defects. However, over 7000 children’s lives are claimed by undetected heart conditions. 

“My husband was the one who helped Jace,” Ellen said. “We’re just very passionate about it. We don’t want any other parent or coach to have to go through that.”

When Jace collapsed during practice, his father Chad started CPR on him and Athletic Trainer Richelle Perkins shocked Jace with the AED, saving his life.

“I really did not think I was gonna be able to [play basketball],” Jace said. “When I was lying in the hospital, I had a lady come up to me and say ‘You know what, Jace? You will never be able to play again.’ and it kinda flipped a switch in me. I’m not gonna let my little heart decide what I’m going to do with my life.” 

Earlier this month, Jace was finally cleared to play basketball again.

“I came to Valley to play basketball. My father coaches here and I couldn’t just give up on him and on my teammates so I’m super excited to be back. Of course, I have to be careful, but you only got one life to live so I’m gonna live it to the fullest.”