Posted by Brian Rippey / Reading Eagle on Aug 18th 2020
Coach talks about helping to save Boyertown teen who went into cardiac arrest at lacrosse practice
Coach talks about helping to save Boyertown teen who went into cardiac arrest at lacrosse practice
By Brian Rippey brippey@readingeagle.com @BrianRippey on Twitter
Updated
A group wearing BStrong T-shirts and gaiters gather in Gilbertsville to show their support for Brendan Avvento, the Boyertown teen stricken by sudden cardiac arrest. Courtesy of Cyndi Macaluso.
He never before had administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
But when the cry went out nearly three weeks ago, Pete Muller broke into action and let his training take over.
Brendan Avvento, a Boyertown 14-year-old lacrosse player, was on the ground after being stricken by sudden cardiac arrest. He had no pulse and wasn't breathing.
Peter Muller, who performed CPR on stricken Boyertown teen Brendan Avvento: “That’s the first time I’ve ever done anything like that. It was completely surreal. I don’t know why I reacted. It just felt like I was outside my body when I was working on him. I wasn’t even thinking. All I was thinking was don’t let this kid die. It was very scary.” Courtesy of Peter Muller
"I heard somebody shout 'Does anybody know CPR,' " Muller said. "I ran up the hill thinking it was an adult. I had no idea what I was about to see."
Muller, who lives in Avondale, was on a nearby field at the Maplezone Sports Institute in Aston running his Rising Suns team through a practice. Avvento was two fields away playing with his Mesa Orange team when he went to the ground.
Concerned coaches looked to Muller for help and he began administering CPR.
"That's the first time I've ever done anything like that," Muller said. "It was completely surreal. I don't know why I reacted. It just felt like I was outside my body when I was working on him. I wasn't even thinking. All I was thinking was don't let this kid die. It was very scary."
Avvento has been in Children's Hospital of Philadelphia recovering since the July 14 incident.
As Avvento fights for his body to regain its vital functions, the Boyertown community has rallied around him and his family. The community has raised more than $15,000 through BStrong spirit wear sales at Victory Lacrosse of Boyertown and a GoFundMe page set up by one of Brendan's teammates, Jackson Harrington.
Supporters gathered in Gilbertsville Friday for a photo of friends and teammates wearing their BStrong T-shirts and gaiters.
Another fundraiser has been planned for the Rita's Italian Ice on Philadelphia Avenue in Boyertown on Thursday, Aug. 13. Proceeds from the event will go to the Boyertown Lax Association and will be used to help train and educate people in giving CPR.
The community also has been able to follow Brendan's recovery via a Facebook page set up by his aunt, Andie Avvento Mueller. She relays information to the group from Brendan's parents, Scott and Heather Avvento.
Brendan Avvento
In the latest post, Scott Avvento told his sister that Brendan reacted after watching videos sent to him by some of his lacrosse teammates.
"It was great to hear laughter and see a smile," Scott Avvento told his sister.
Muller said he has been following the Facebook posts as well. He read the one where Scott Avvento called out the many people who reacted to save Brendan's life. Scott Avvento called Muller "Captain America."
Muller served in the military for 24 years before retiring in June. He learned CPR near the beginning of his enlistment when he served eight years as an army medic.
Throughout that time and another 16 years as a commissioned infantry officer who did two tours of duty in Iraq, Muller never had to administer CPR.
"Never on a human being, just in training," Muller said about his CPR experience.
But his training took over when he reached Brendan. Muller started the CPR while another coach began rescue breathing.
Muller said a police officer raced to the scene and continued the CPR while Muller tried to clear Brendan's airway. He saw that Brendan had started breathing again.
Shortly after that, an ambulance arrived and medical personnel began treating Brendan with an automated external defibrillator.
"When I saw the AED go on I kind of stepped back," Muller said. "I walked off the field. I was an emotional wreck at the time."
Muller, an Information Technology director for Exelon, said Scott Avvento has communicated his gratitude through Facebook messages. Being the father of two sons who play lacrosse made it all the more of an emotional experience for Muller.
"I can't even imagine what he's (Scott) going through right now," Muller said. "I told him when Brendan's better we can all meet. I look forward to that day."