California Teenager Saved By Defibrillator
Brooks Beler and his family, who live in Montana, were visiting family members in McFarland, and they contacted 23 ABC to share his story. Brooks says he is alive today thanks to a defibrillator, and now he is making it his mission to raise awareness...
MCFARLAND, Calif. --
March 14 was like any other day to Brooks Beler. He woke up and went to school, but it was a fateful event in his last class that perhaps changed his life forever.
"I sat down in class and stood up and fell over. It was really scary, and I just remember waking up in the hospital" said Brooks.
Thirteen-year old Brook went into a sudden cardiac arrest in the middle of class. He suffers from cardiomyopathy, a condition that affects the heart muscles and that day his heart to stop beating.
Teachers at his school in Montana quickly began performing CPR and ran immediately to get the defibrillator.
"They were on their way to get the defibrillator when the Fire Department came and used their defibrillator. They shocked him twice, and he came back after two shocks" said Brooks' mother, Maggie Beler.
Brooks says he is alive today thanks to a defibrillator, and now he is making it his mission to raise awareness about this machine that could help save lives.
"You should really consider getting these because it's very useful and it saves lives. I'm a prime example of one" said Beler.
McFarland school district officials say defibrillators are expensive and putting one in every school is something the district can't afford.
"We have looked into them, but with the current budget situation, we don't have the resources to a acquire them at this time," said David Lopez with the McFarland School District.
But Beler says you can never put a price on a life, especially when it comes to kids.
"People say its too costly, but coming from my heart, your child is more important than the price of a defibrillator. So get one because its priceless," said Beler.
Defibrillators can range anywhere from $1,500 to about $2,500.
The McFarland School District says it is currently looking into grants to make them available at schools.
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