Mason’s Story: Rebuilding Heart Health After a Lightning Strike

Care that Feels Like Home

Mason can continue to pursue his dream of becoming a professional soccer player, thanks to the expert heart care he received at Children’s Nebraska.

Just a short time after his family moved away from Omaha, 15-year-old Mason was struck by lightning during a high school soccer practice. He initially received care in the intensive care unit at a local hospital, but his family soon decided to return to their hometown of Omaha.

“We just felt like he needed a higher level of care and a place we trusted,” says Mason’s mom, Chelsey.

Because Mason had been a longstanding patient at Children’s Physicians – Spring Valley, Chelsey was able to reach his former pediatrician, Jane Carnazzo, M.D., who referred the family to the Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Heart Center.

And when Mason arrived at Children’s, a team was waiting for him.

Pediatric Cardiac Rehab — A Critical Component of Recovery

Jason Cole, MD, a pediatric cardiologist in the Criss Heart Center, recalls examining Mason: “He had damage and scarring to his heart from where the electricity actually injured the heart muscle. The nerves and muscles all throughout his body were affected as well.”

Dr. Cole also recalls talking to Mason.

“One of the questions I ask a lot of my patients is, ‘What do you want to do with your life and how can I help you achieve it?’,” he says. “Not even breaking a smile or missing a beat, Mason said, ‘I’m going to play professional soccer.’ And I remember thinking at that moment, ‘This kid’s got it.’”

Dr. Cole recommended Mason for Children’s Cardiac Rehab program, one of only a few such offerings in the country — and the only one in the region.

Unlike adult programs, this specialized pediatric program has cardiac exercise physiologists who focus on teaching children and adolescents healthy habits they can carry with them as they grow.

“When it comes to cardiac rehab, even I think of an older individual who had some sort of an event, needed a correction and then had to do cardiac rehab,” says Caleb Ross, MS, EPC, ACE-OES, a cardiac exercise physiologist at Children’s. “With this pediatric program, we can really help young people adopt new and healthier habits that will change the trajectory of their lives.”

Mason participated in a mix of customized, one-on-one strength training and cardio workouts that pushed him while ensuring his heart could handle the stress.

“It’s very motivating,” Mason says. “I mean, I actually enjoy the workout.”

Dr. Cole notes that the program is incorporated into the Criss Heart Center’s day-to-day operations.

“It’s right next door to our echo (echocardiography) labs, which are right next door to our EKG (electrocardiogram) testing center, which is right across the hall from our outpatient clinic rooms,” he says. “We’re incredibly fortunate to have a program like this. It’s one of only a very few in the country able to offer this service specifically to pediatric patients.”

Making Strides to Get Back to the Soccer Field

Mason exceeded expectations in the Cardiac Rehab program and recently graduated.

“He had the greatest success we’ve had in the history of the program,” Ross says. “But I kind of expected that to happen because of who Mason is.”

Although his timeline for returning to soccer remains undefined, Mason knows that working with the cardiac team at the Criss Heart Center significantly helped him along the road to recovery.

“To everyone who’s been there for me — thank you,” he says.

The Cardiac Rehab program is just one piece of the comprehensive care provided by the Criss Heart Center. Learn more about its clinics and programs.