In March 2024, Oscar, 6, collapsed during an 8U travel baseball game after being struck in the chest by a ball. His heart had stopped from commotio cordis.  His mother immediately began CPR. There was no AED at the field. Paramedics arrived within minutes and delivered defibrillation on the way to the hospital.

At the hospital, Oscar was placed on a ventilator. The next day, he was weaned off the ventilator and began breathing on his own. Oscar woke up three days later and said, “Hi, Mom.”

His family created the Oscar Strong Foundation to raise awareness about CPR, AEDs, and heart protection in youth sports, so no family is ever left unprepared.