Pyper Midkiff, a 12-year-old soccer player from Arizona, is hospitalized after suffering a cardiac arrest on April 27 during practice. She collapsed suddenly and has been in the hospital ever since, yet her story has sparked a massive outpouring of love and support from the soccer community, both in the Valley and across the nation.
Her father, Matt Midkiff, a physical therapist and soccer coach of 28 years, commented that this kind of event is completely unexpected, especially with a seemingly healthy 12-year-old like Pyper. He expressed his shock at the situation but was comforted by the tremendous support they have received over the last 72 hours.
The family was relieved to hear that 24 hours after the cardiac arrest, Pyper woke up for the first time. Treatment is ongoing, and she is currently undergoing a cooling study to protect her heart, liver, brain, and kidney function from tissue damage. She is expected to be at the Phoenix Children’s Hospital for weeks as she continues to recover.
Doctors are still performing tests to identify the cause of Pyper’s cardiac arrest. However, it is not unheard of for such an event to occur in a young person. Immediate response and CPR are key in this situation, and luckily Pyper’s coach, an ICU nurse, acted quickly to deliver CPR.
The family is grateful for the waves of love they have been receiving, and they believe it has been instrumental in Pyper’s recovery. Matt Midkiff said that his family had experienced lifetimes of love in two and a half days. Pyper’s story serves as an important reminder of the fragility of life, the power of support and love, and the importance of being prepared for medical emergencies.