Tragedy into Triumph: Bob & Michele Snyder’s Lifesaving Work
Michele and Bob Snyder have dedicated the past 15 years to the Jennifer Lynn Snyder Teen Heart Foundation (Jenny’s Mission), building a dedicated network of partners and supporters to honor their daughter and advance their mission of reducing sudden cardiac death (SCA) in youths. They estimate that the 23 AEDs they’ve donated in the Greater Chicago area protect almost 200,000 people who live in nearby communities and use the athletic fields where these life-saving AEDs are installed.
Jenny’s Story
On August 21, 2008, Michele and Bob received the call that no parent ever wants to receive. Jenny, their 17-year-old daughter, had collapsed suddenly while playing soccer at a community park. She was a seemingly healthy, active student at Glenbrook North High School and was practicing with her travel soccer club team in preparation for her varsity season. Jenny was about to begin her senior year. Sadly, however, no AED was available on the playing field, which could have shocked her heart back into a normal rhythm and this wonderful young woman passed away.
Jenny suffered Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA), which was caused by an undiagnosed congenital abnormality in her heart. One in 300 youth have an undetected heart condition that puts them at risk, which highlights the need for heart screenings for teenagers at local schools and, especially, to have AEDs present at all outdoor sports fields, where most SCA events in young student athletes occur.
Jenny’s Mingle Chicago
On November 5, 2023, Bob & Michele hosted Jenny’s Mingle at the Catalyst Ranch in Chicago. In addition to several old friends and neighbors, SaveHeart Founder Dave Fritzsche and representatives from community organizations who received donated AEDs and SaveHeart outdoor AED cabinets were also honored to attend. Through grants from the Jenny’s Mission, the Western Springs IL Little League (WSLL) and the Lombard IL Falcons Junior Football League now have lifesaving AEDs at their playing fields to protect young athletes and the community at large.
After Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin collapsed in January 2023 from sudden cardiac event, Dr. Jim Sur (a renowned cardiologist and Western Springs resident) spoke to the Western Springs Little League (WSLL) board and the Western Springs Park District board of commissioners about the need to have defibrillators in village parks. WSLL immediately reached out to Jenny’s Mission and filled out a grant application for a defibrillator for Spring Rock Park. Thanks to this grant from Jenny’s Mission, an outdoor AED now safeguards baseball players, parents, friends, and residents who visit and enjoy this popular & beautiful outdoor gathering place.
NBC News Chicago covered this AED donation and interviewed both Dr. Sur and Jeff Thiede, president of Western Springs Little League. “We have over 850 boys and girls who play baseball and softball in WSLL,” Thiede said. “We thought it was important to have the resources here- in case an accident ever occurred.”
To learn more about Bob & Michele’s lifesaving work placing AEDs on outdoor athletic fields, please visit : https://teenheartfoundation.org/jennys-story/.
A New Era of Outdoor AED Placements and Accessibility: Meet SaveHeart
Jenny’s story and the inspiring efforts of her parents, Bob & Michelle, are helping to change the status quo- where today less than 10% of SCA victims survive due to AEDs not being available and accessible when needed. This includes outdoors, where teenagers play and communities gather, often far away from indoor AEDs or after hours when facilities are closed (with AEDs locked inside). The good news is that technology now exists to allow AEDs to be placed outside in highly visible, attractive, temperature-controlled & monitored ‘smart’ cabinets to provide immediate visibility & 24/7 access to lifesaving AEDs, Stop the Bleed Kits, Narcan and other emergency supplies. Proudly ‘Made in the USA,’ SaveHeart Outdoor AED solutions are ideal for athletic fields, parks, trails, schools & universities, marinas, towns & cities, and any public or private outdoor locations where people congregate.