SAN ANTONIO, Tx —
The father of Jaren Lawson, the 16-year-old athlete who died after collapsing at football practice at Stevens High School in February is expressing disappointment in Northside ISD.
Troy Lawson says he has not heard from the school district since his son’s death.
Jaren’s cause of death was revealed last week as a heart condition called hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a genetic disease that causes the heart muscle to become thicker than normal. The condition can be detected by an echocardiogram or ECG. Troy Lawson says learning Jaren died of the rare heart condition came as a complete shock.
“My son was healthy,” Lawson said. “Taking him to doctor appointments, from what the medical examiner is saying, I’m sure something like that would’ve crossed my path. You’re talking about a rare heart disease.”
Former State Representative Dan Huberty says Cody’s Law was passed in 2019 in honor of Cody Stephens, a high school football player who died in 2012 from Sudden Cardiac Arrest. The law requires schools to educate athletes and parents about Sudden Cardiac Arrest and give the option of preventative exams.
“They have to provide notification of what could happen,” Huberty said. “You as a parent or guardian need to read it. You have to be given the option of having the EKG done. If the parent chooses to do that then they have to be provided the ability to get that done at a medical provider.”
Troy feels EKGs should be made a requirement for athletes to participate in sports.
“They definitely should implement it,” Lawson said. “I mean, look at what happened to my son.”