When Simon was born, no one knew that he had a heart defect called Long QT syndrome. He looked healthy and was happy. However, electrical signals that make the heart beat did not work properly in Simon’s heart. When he was three months old, he died from sudden cardiac arrest, which means that his heart unexpectedly stopped beating. After Simon’s death, Mrs. Sudman found out that she also has Long QT syndrome. The disorder is often hereditary—passed from a parent to a child. But many people won’t know if they have Long QT or another heart defect unless they undergo medical tests. It’s not only babies who can die unexpectedly from sudden cardiac arrest. It’s the No. 1 cause of death among student athletes, Mr. Sudman says. Simon’s Fund screens for about 10 potentially fatal heart conditions. Long QT syndrome is one of them. At a screening, students are weighed, measured, and have their blood pressure checked. They also undergo an electrocardiogram (ECG). It records the heart’s electrical rhythm—whether it is fast or slow, steady or uneven. In this way, the ECG can identify many of the conditions that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest, Mr. Sudman says. In addition to conducting screenings, Simon’s Fund has been pushing for laws to make people more aware of sudden cardiac arrest in children. Darren and Phyllis Sudman Increasing access to heart tests that can save young lives Darren Sudman wants all children to have their hearts checked. He knows screenings can detect heart problems and save lives. To make screenings more widely available, he and his wife, Phyllis, set up an organization called Simon’s Fund. It is named for their infant son Simon, who died from a heart defect in 2005. Since it started, Simon’s Fund has screened the hearts of more than 8,000 children. In about 60 children, the screenings found serious problems that might not have been spotted otherwise. Because of the publicity about the screenings, many more children and families have learned about heart disease and have had their hearts checked, Mr. Sudman says. “It is great to do something in memory of my son,” he says. He also finds it meaningful to give back to others. “I hope all of you are lucky enough to find something to help your family and help other people,” says Mr. Sudman, who runs Simon’s Fund. 22