both her studies and doing whatever it takes to get back on the court.
Elzy has no doubt she will succeed.
“Let me tell you, she is resilient. She is tough,” the coach says. “She called us from the hospital after surgery. She FaceTimed me and said, ‘I did good, coach, but I’m going to get out of this bed and walk.’ It’s a mentality athletes have. We’re used to fighting through, being knocked down but you have to get back up. She is a woman on a mission and I have very high hopes that she will return to the court.”
Elzy feels so strongly about recognizing Herron’s efforts, she created the Blue Heart award in her honor. At the end of every game, Elzy says, it’s given to a player “for resiliency and toughness, for players who leave their heart on the floor.”
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What are the symptoms of AAOCA?
Children with AAOCA typically begin to have symptoms around age 10, when they begin competitive sports or more vigorous exercise. In some cases, the first sign of anomalous aortic origin of a coronary artery is sudden cardiac arrest.
Symptoms can include:
- chest pain during exercise
- dizziness
- fainting during exercise
- rapid heartbeat
The condition is usually diagnosed with an echocardiogram. If your child is experiencing any of the above symptoms, your doctor can confirm the diagnosis with a cardiac MRI or computed tomography angiogram (CTA) as well as additional testing, such as an exercise stress test with stress echo.
By American Heart Association