On May 1 the unthinkable happened. Bonney Lake High School freshman Logan Burton collapsed during fitness class while at school. His heart stopped beating. Thanks to the quick actions of BLHS staff, who used CPR and an AED, Logan is alive today.

At the May 17 school board meeting, East Pierce Fire and Rescue Assistant Chief Jeff Moore and Logan’s mom, Alicia Burton, honored BLHS staff who were instrumental in saving Logan’s life.

There wasn’t a dry eye in the packed boardroom when Alicia recounted the moment she learned of her son’s cardiac arrest. “We never in a million years thought we would hear the words ‘cardiac arrest’ again.” Logan’s first cardiac arrest was after open heart surgery seven years earlier.

After PE teacher Javid Shoemaker applied chest compressions for about eight minutes, PE teacher Eryn Ruud used the automated external defibrillator (AED). It was this combination that saved Logan.

From EMTs to emergency room staff and cardiologists, they all told Alicia that “Bonney Lake High School staff are heroes. They did textbook CPR and AED.”

Alicia went on to express gratitude that BLHS and all of our district facilities have AEDs. She noted that if it had happened anywhere else — at home, in a restaurant or in the car — Logan would not be with us today. It was the right time, right place and right people.

Alicia and her family are eternally grateful for the superheroes who saved their son’s life. The District also recognized their life-saving, heroic actions.

Anthony Clarke

Gabriel Fried

Jamie Gadsby

Andy Foster

Kelly Johnson

Brenda Kuehlthau

Eryn Ruud

Javid Shoemaker

Robyn Stevenson