According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics, about 2,000 seemingly healthy people under age 25 die of sudden cardiac arrest each year in the United States. Young athletes, especially those participating in high-intensity sports such as basketball, soccer, and football, are particularly at risk. Research shows that sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in young athletes in the US. 

Cortez Hill knows these statistics all too well, and for him, they aren’t just numbers. In 2002, his brother Victor Hill, who was a 10th grader at Hoover High School at the time, died on the football practice field at the age of 15 due to cardiac dysrhythmia.  

The Hill family was never the same. 

“The loss of Victor really impacted my family over the years, and it brought confusion and uncertainty,” Cortez Hill said. 

After Hill became an adult, he decided he wanted to try to prevent other families from enduring the pain he felt after losing his big brother. 

“I started asking, ‘What can I do to make a difference?’” Hill said. 

In January 2024, he founded Whole Hearts Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness and providing essential tools and training to prevent cardiac arrest in youth athletes. In fall 2024, the Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham awarded Whole Hearts Inc. $5,000 to help support the organization’s work. 

Through education, comprehensive emergency response training, and access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs), Whole Hearts Inc. strives to ensure the safety and well-being of young athletes. But Hill hopes to have an impact on all demographics. 

“My nonprofit is designed for youth athletes because that was dear to me and my personal situation, but I’m bringing awareness for everyone because it can happen in any situation,” Hill said. “Cardiac arrest can happen at any age in any setting.” 

Since launching, Whole Hearts Inc. has been hard at work. 

The organization has partnered with local YMCA sites to provide heart education events to elementary school-age children.  

“I wanted to not skip over any generation when it came to bringing awareness,” Hill said. 

Through these events, kids learn how the heart functions and how eating well, exercising, and getting enough rest can help keep their hearts healthy. 

Whole Hearts Inc. has also led programs at middle and high schools and at colleges such as Samford University. The organization also hosts pop-up events at baseball and basketball games to educate attendees about the importance of AEDs and CPR. 

 

Looking ahead, Hill hopes to partner with more organizations like the Boys and Girls Club as well as parks and recreation departments across the state. 

 National CPR & AED Awareness Week is June 1-7 for which Whole Hearts plans to host a pop-up at Railroad Park. But for Hill, the work is year-round. 

On June 14, Whole Hearts Inc. will participate in a health and wellness event at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, where they will not only offer education on CPR and AEDs but also do health screenings. 

How to Save a Life 

Heart health in athletes made headlines in 2023 after Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest during a game against the Bengals. Fortunately, Hamlin was resuscitated after his near-fatal collapse thanks in part to CPR and the use of a defibrillator. 

A primary goal of Whole Hearts Inc. is to get AEDs in as many places as possible. To make this happen, the organization has partnered with ZOLL Medical to provide devices at affordable prices. Whole Hearts Inc. is also working to purchase and donate devices to schools and churches and other facilities such as martial arts studios and activity centers. 

Because the chance for survival after cardiac arrest dramatically increases with the use of an AED within the proper time frame, Hill can’t help but wonder if an AED had been available the day his brother collapsed, if Victor would still be here today. 

Hill’s grief for his brother fuels the work he does for Whole Hearts Inc. 

“The Good Lord has shown me not to run from my pain but to run toward your pain because within your pain is your purpose,” he said. “Whole Hearts Incorporated is my purpose.”  

Learn more about Whole Hearts Inc. at wholeheartsinc.org.