VIDEO: Long Island Athlete Discovers Heart Condition Through Screening
SEAFORD —A free electrocardiogram screening helped Seaford High School cheerleader Christina Louca discover an undiagnosed heart condition, prompting her to advocate for mandatory screenings for student-athletes in New York.
Christina was initially hesitant to undergo the screening offered through her school. But the test revealed Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, a condition involving an extra electrical pathway in the heart that can cause episodes of rapid heartbeat and, in some cases, life-threatening complications.
“I got diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome,” Christina said. “Basically, there’s an extra electrical pathway in my heart that could cause my heart to speed up really fast and possibly go into cardiac arrest.”
The screening was part of a cardiovascular screening initiative that reached more than 200 student-athletes. Christina’s diagnosis has inspired her to help ensure other young athletes have access to screenings that could identify potentially dangerous heart conditions before tragedy strikes.
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She is partnering with the Connor Kasin Memorial Foundation to advocate for Connor’s Law, proposed legislation in the New York state Legislature that would require electrocardiogram, or EKG, screenings for student-athletes.
The foundation honors Connor Kasin, a Massapequa hockey player who died in 2024 from an undetected heart condition while participating in a charity hockey game.
Connor’s parents, Craig and Mary Kasin, have since worked to raise awareness about the importance of cardiovascular screenings for young athletes.
Craig Kasin said Connor appeared to be in excellent health, underscoring how an undetected heart condition can affect even seemingly healthy young people.
“Talk about the picture of health and in shape,” he said. “You would never suspect anything if your kid was an athlete.”
Mary Kasin believes early detection could have changed her son’s outcome.
“He would be here today, 100%,” she said. “He may not have been as happy because hockey was his life, and he would have had to stop playing. But he would be here today.”
Christina and the Kasin family are parishioners of St. William the Abbot Church in Seaford, where their shared faith community has supported them as they work to protect young athletes.
For Christina, the effort is an opportunity to give a voice to a young athlete whose life was cut short.
“I just want to be an advocate for him and be the voice that he doesn’t have anymore,” she said.
Mary Kasin said her faith has been essential as she copes with the loss of her son and continues the family’s advocacy work.
“It’s an everyday battle, honestly, but if I didn’t have my faith, I think I would not be here myself,” she said.
The families hope sharing their experiences will encourage more schools, parents and lawmakers to prioritize heart health screenings for student-athletes.
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Connor’s Law remains under consideration in the New York state Legislature. The proposed legislation aims to expand access to heart screenings for student-athletes and help identify potentially dangerous conditions before they lead to tragedy.
The public can support the effort by donating to the Connor Kasin Memorial Foundation, which raises awareness about sudden cardiac events in young athletes and advocates for measures to help prevent similar losses.
For Craig Kasin, the foundation’s mission has become a way to honor his son and help other families.
“Maybe this is the mission,” he said. “I mean, I would prefer to have my son back, but you see how everything — you get more, everything comes together.”
For Christina, a screening she initially hesitated to take has become a turning point, giving her an opportunity to help protect other young athletes and potentially save lives.