CLEVELAND — For Shaw High School athlete Zaharius Hillmon, playing basketball this season was a bit different due to the pandemic, but that wasn't the only reason.  

Zaharius' life changed and was saved in a matter of seconds after he collapsed during halftime and the team's certified athletic trainer, David Silverstein, swiftly performed CPR.

What You Need To Know

  • February is America Heart Month

  • One Northeast Ohio family is sharing their experience as an example of the importance of CPR when it comes to saving the lives of those experiencing cardiac arrest or a heart attack

  • The American Heart Association says that during the coronavirus pandemic it is possible and encouraged to provide hands-only CPR, although mouth to mouth CPR can be most effective 

“I went 5-4-3-2-1 go and you know just cast off any fear that I had or apprehension aside. And had to act decisively, right then and there,” Silverstein says.

His parents, NaSheema Anderson and her husband, Victor, were watching the game virtually.

“We were watching Shaw play VASJ on a live stream on Jan. 12 so none of us were present because of COVID. We were watching on a live stream and they were winning the game. The last thing we remember is Z the dunking the ball,”  NaSheema Anderson says.

When they were alerted that Hillmon had a seizure and was unresponsive they were stunned.

“It’s just hard to put into words exactly what we were feeling and thinking into words, it was more shock than anything else.”  Victor Anderson said.

Hillmon was rushed to University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital.

NaSheema Anderson said the last time she was at UH was 17 years ago when Zaharius was born, and she watched as UH's Rainbow’s trauma team worked to save her son’s life. 

“There were hours that have gone past before we had details surrounding that it was not, in fact, a seizure that he had went into cardiac arrest. And so he had a heart attack," NaSheema Anderson said.

Doctors found that he has a congenital heart defect — a condition they say is the second most common cause of sudden cardiac death among young athletes.

They added that it was actually the actions taken before he arrived at the hospital that saved his life. 

Zaharius said he is grateful to Silverstein for giving him a second chance to get back on the court. 

“At first, I thought I'll never be able to play again, but they informed me that it is possible that I can play again after the surgery. And after I heal, I should be back to myself,” Zaharius said.

“It just goes to shows that knowing CPR early defibrillation and having athletic trainers on-site does save lives," Silverstein said.