A parent came to the rescue of a student from Mansfield ISD after she collapsed from a heart condition on the basketball court

During a basketball game at a Mansfield ISD middle school, a 14-year-old student named Cirye Carpenter, known as Cici, collapsed and stopped breathing due to an undetected heart condition. She was saved by the heroic actions of a parent who performed CPR, ultimately saving her life.

Carpenter, whose passion lies in sports, especially basketball, was aiming to play softball in high school and college. However, in November, while playing basketball, she began feeling dizzy and nauseous before collapsing on the sideline.

Kari McConnell, a nurse with 20 years of experience, happened to be leaving the gym with her daughter when she heard about Carpenter’s condition. Utilizing the school’s defibrillator, McConnell assessed Carpenter’s condition and found her pulse and heart rhythm to be stable.

Despite being hospitalized and released initially without a diagnosis, Carpenter experienced another alarming episode two weeks later during another basketball game. McConnell once again rushed to her aid, this time finding Carpenter in a much worse state.

Performing CPR for the first time, McConnell felt a sense of urgency and responsibility to act. Her quick actions saved Carpenter’s life. Subsequent medical examinations revealed Carpenter had a life-threatening heart defect, which required immediate attention through open-heart surgery.

Carpenter’s mother, Shay McConnell, was relieved by the miraculous turn of events, while Carpenter expressed immense gratitude towards Kari McConnell, whom she now considers a second mother.

Their bond serves as a testament to the profound impact of an act of heroism, forever linking the two families. A GoFundMe campaign has been initiated to assist the Carpenter family with medical expenses related to Cici’s condition.