SaveHeart Stories Newsletter
Volume VII
News to Use in the Fight Against Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Hello friends,
“The two best days in a person’s life are the day you’re born, and the day you discover why.”
— Mark Twain
I love this quote for 2 reasons. It reminds me of my parents, and why I’m so grateful today to work with incredible people and organizations focused on significantly improving sudden cardiac arrest survival rates. Allow me to explain…
I always knew how special my parents were, though this notion has only grown stronger with the passage of time, and through my own marriage and fatherhood. Peter and Ruth Fritzsche were extraordinary people and wonderful parents. They raised 6 children (I’m #3), and taught each of us to work hard, live by the golden rule, take personal accountability for our actions, and pursue our dreams.
Unfortunately, they both passed away too early- Dad in 2006 from a heart attack and cardiac arrest, and Mom in 2008 from surgery complications to repair a leaky heart valve.
Peter & Ruth Fritzsche Wedding- February 12, 1966 & later during the ‘Golden Years.’
Their beautiful lives and sudden deaths also represent my ‘why’ in founding SaveHeart by HeartNation. Back in 2006, at the same time as my dad was in hospice, and at the very same hospital, I was diagnosed with apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and an abnormal
EKG. Luckily, my annual check-ups have not shown an increased thickening of my heart muscle over time, and I’m on the low end of the HCM risk spectrum. Still, my diagnosis and the pain of losing both Dad & Mom to heart disease led me to continue working in the AED industry, and more recently, to found SaveHeart by HeartNation to place lifesaving AEDs outside in parks, schools, communities, and wherever people gather.
Our mission at SaveHeart by HeartNation isn’t just something I do for a living. It’s personal.
This is also why we support several remarkable not-for-profit organizations focused on eliminating unnecessary deaths through increased SCA awareness, greater AED access, and preventative youth heart screenings. And so I’m incredibly thankful for the people and organizations who share this mission- partners like the Talbot Paramedic Foundation, Team Trace, the Kristoffer Larsen Big Heart Memorial Foundation, the Zac Mago Foundation, the Matthew Mangine One Shot Foundation, The Peyton Walker Foundation, Huddle For Hearts, and so many others. While each has its own story, they’re all united in serving others with purpose.
I’m also grateful for our many distributor partners and customers all over the country. Thank you for believing in our mission, for your trust, and for building something special together.
That’s what this newsletter is all about: gratitude, partnerships, and awareness.
From our family to yours, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year filled with laughter, love, purpose, and progress.
May God bless you and your family this holiday season,
Dave Fritzsche,
Founder, SaveHeart by HeartNation
HeartNation Happenings…
End of Season SaveHeart by HeartNation Savings Extended
We’re extending our SaveHeart by HeartNation community discounts through the end of January to help organizations move from intention to action.
Outdoor SaveHeart Cabinets (SH 200VH or VHM Wall Mount • SH 300VH or VHM Tower)
– Buy 1, take an additional 20% off
– Buy 2, get a 3rd at HALF price
– Buy 4, get a 5th FREE
Indoor SaveHeart AED Cabinets (SH 500) – Buy 1, Get 1 FREE
These discounts are now extended through January 31. Contact us today for more information and to lock in your savings now. Please reach out directly to get a quote or for more
information: dave@saveheart.life or 312-953-6928.
A Big Step for Community Safety in Kouts, Indiana
We’re grateful to be part of something special in Kouts, Indiana. The community’s first 24/7 publicly accessible outdoor AED is now in place at Drazer Memorial Park!
A sincere thank-you to Sandberg Electric for donating their time and installing the unit at no cost, and to the partners who made
this possible: the Kouts Parks Department, Kouts Police Department, the Zac Mago Foundation and Porter County
Health Department. This kind of teamwork truly saves lives.
Back at Geneva High School for Student Heart Screening
We’re excited to return to Geneva High School in Geneva,
Illinois to volunteer at their upcoming student heart screening on March 10, 2026. This event happens every two years, and after such an incredible experience in 2024, we’re grateful to be part of it again.
If you’re in Illinois, we’d love for you to join us in supporting this important effort—made possible by our friends at the Kristoffer Larsen Big Heart Memorial Foundation. and Young Hearts 4 Life
Have You Heard the
SaveHeart Stories Podcast?
The SaveHeart Stories podcast tells real life stories from people affected by SCA, including those who have dedicated their lives to eliminating unnecessary SCA death. You can listen on SaveHeartStories.com, on our YouTube Channel or wherever you stream your favorite podcasts
SaveHeart Stories Episode #7
“Attacking SCA from All Angles:
A Conversation with Tormod Larsen”
Most people never expect to face a moment that changes everything. When they do, what happens next matters.
In a new episode of SaveHeart Stories, we talk with Tormod Larsen about his son Kristoffer, the loss that reshaped his family, and the deliberate decision to respond with action through the Kristoffer Larsen BIG HEART Memorial Foundation.
It’s an honest conversation about grief, responsibility, and choosing to protect others when you can’t change what’s already happened. That decision has already led to heart screenings for more than 5,000 people, with many more ahead. We’re thankful to Tormod for his openness and for trusting us with Kristoffer’s story.
You can listen to the SaveHeart Stories podcast here, and wherever you stream your favorite shows.
If you’re interested in being a guest on SaveHeart Stories, please contact us- we’d love to help you tell your story!
Thank you so much for your support.
Check out the Podcast page!
From the SaveHeart Stories Blog
Colder Weather, Higher Risk for Sudden Cardiac Arrest
It’s a fact: Cold weather is harder on the heart. That’s why we need outside AED access, available 24/7.
Our latest blog breaks down the research and explains why communities need reliable, 24/7 outdoor AED access when temperatures drop. If you want to learn more (and see what your town can do to be better prepared), you can read it here.
Learn More About Protecting Against Sudden Cardiac Arrest in Your Community
Visit SaveHeart.Life for more information
Or email us at
SaveHeart by HeartNation
33 Locust Road, Winnetka, Illinois, 60093, United States