Christina Louca, a cheerleader and runner from Seaford, New York, was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome, a cardiac condition that can lead to heart attacks, during her sophomore year. The diagnosis came as a shock, as Louca had no prior health issues and a routine physical had not indicated any problems. Her condition was flagged by an EKG during free cardiovascular screenings offered to student-athletes by the Seaford school district.
Louca's mother urged her to attend the screening. Following the diagnosis, Louca was able to continue participating in her sports with a portable defibrillator present. In May, she underwent a catheter ablation that corrected the cardiac issue, and she has since returned to cheer practice. She expressed gratitude for the opportunity to live her life safely and plans to pursue a career in nursing.
Advocates for Student Heart Health
Louca's experience highlighted for her that many young athletes may have hidden heart conditions. The EKG screening she received was organized by two mothers whose sons died from similar cardiovascular conditions. These mothers founded Heart Screen NY, an organization that conducts free heart screenings for children across Long Island.
Karen Acompora, whose son Louis died more than twenty years ago after being hit by a lacrosse ball, co-runs Heart Screen NY with Melinda Murray-Nyack. Murray-Nyack's son, Dominic, experienced a cardiovascular episode while playing basketball, and she had previously lost her husband to a heart attack.
“It feels like we’re doing something right if we could send a child home to their parents,” Murray-Nyack stated. However, she emphasized the need for broader support beyond their efforts.
Louca and her mother have become vocal advocates for these screenings. Louca believes her story can encourage others to get tested, stating, “My story could be very common for someone else, and I feel like if they see me, who found this out, they’ll be like, ‘Oh, if she had it, I could possibly have it.’”
Supporting Connor's Law
Louca is now partnering with the Connor Kasin Memorial Foundation. Connor Kasin, a hockey player from Massapequa, died during a 2024 charity game from an undiagnosed heart condition that was also missed in his physicals. The foundation, led by Connor's parents, Craig and Mary Kasin, is advocating for the passage of "Connor's Law" in Albany. This bill, introduced by assemblyman Michael Durso, would mandate EKGs for student-athletes in New York.
"Maybe nobody else will have to experience the death and loss as Mary and Craig experienced,” said Louca's mother, Tricia, describing their work together as a “new mission.” She stressed the simplicity and impact of the screenings: “It’s just a couple stickers, a five-minute EKG, and it could definitely change lives and keep many lives here.”
Louca found Connor's story particularly resonant due to his unknown arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy. “That’s why I feel like we should spread more awareness to it,” she said, “so something like that doesn’t happen to other people.” Louca is scheduled to speak at a foundation gala on August 6 to share her personal experience as a testament to the importance of these screenings.
Craig Kasin remarked on Louca's situation as a clear demonstration of the need for Connor's Law, noting that without the school's testing initiative, Louca's condition might have gone undiscovered. Mary Kasin added that the EKG is effective and that Louca is set to have a long and healthy life.