From Time To Time We Need to be Reminded We Are In Healthcare to Make a Positive Impact in the Patient’s Life

Host David Kemp met guest Jaden Isler in 2010 at McMurry University playing basketball. While Kemp is now in healthcare, Isler remained in sports and is now the head coach for the Clovis Wildcat’s boys’ basketball team in New Mexico. The two discussed how these two industries came together during Isler’s senior year of high school when Isler’s heart stopped while watching a softball game.

After Isler collapsed, a doctor in the stands recognized that he was not having a seizure as initially thought by some spectators. Isler was taking agonal breaths, which look like deep gasps and occur as the human body is dying. Thanks to a firefighter, a doctor, and a policeman, Isler was stabilized and taken to a hospital in Amarillo.

After a week of testing, it was unclear why Isler’s heart had stopped, and he was moved to Houston. Thankfully, Isler’s cardiologist ensured that he was able to continue to play basketball, and through rigorous research and extra care, Isler was fitted with a defibrillator. This lifesaving solution enabled Isler to join the other Charleston Southern freshman players for training, eventually realizing his dreams of becoming a division one player.

After a successful playing career, Isler is seeing similar success coaching and took his team to state in his first season. He’s been impressed with how his players have navigated through the pandemic. Isler said, “I got to hand it to our kids, our kids never complained, they just wanted to be able to play and whatever it took, that’s what we did… taking things day by day and trying to keep our program on track.”

Kemp’s discussion with Isler reminds all healthcare professionals of why they go into healthcare in the first place: the opportunity to positively impact the longevity of a patient’s life.

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