When you look at Gavin Hughes, you see a typical teenage boy ready to tackle his senior year of high school. But there is far more to his story. If it wasn’t for an ECG six years ago, his story would be extremely different today.
Jillian Michaels, Gavin’s mother, knows just how lucky she is. “He was in a routine well visit. Every year, the doctor heard a murmur. Those are pretty normal. They grow out of them,” she shared. But as Gavin got older, the doctor suggested a cardiology visit as a precaution. As a busy single mom, finding the time was a challenge. Her mom had a feeling it was important and offered to take him for the extra screening.
That day changed Gavin’s life forever. An appointment with the pediatric cardiologists at St. Joseph’s in Tampa and a round of tests discovered Gavin has a heart disease known as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). A genetic condition where the heart muscle thickens, restricting blood flow. It was such an extreme case that without detection, he could have experienced a sudden event on the field. Instead of heading to soccer practice, from that day on, he could never play competitive soccer again. A month later, Gavin was in surgery to have an ICD/pacemaker implanted.
While Gavin’s case is extreme, he’s not alone. According to the American Heart Association, it’s estimated at least 40,000 children are affected by congenital cardiovascular defects each year in the US. While sports-related Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) is rare, it’s a risk for young athletes. Thankfully, a quick non-invasive screening can identify issues before it’s too late.
An electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG) is a simple test measuring the electrical activity in the heart. It reveals abnormalities in heart rhythm that could signal problems. These screenings are so valuable the state of Florida recently passed The Second Chance Act, requiring all high school athletes to receive electrocardiogram screening before participating in school sports. That law went into effect on July 1, 2025.
After Gavin’s diagnosis, Jillian immediately went into research mode. If Gavin had an ECG before starting competitive soccer, they could have learned about his condition sooner. She quickly discovered Who We Play For, a non-profit dedicated to offering affordable heart screenings for student athletes. As owner of Innovative Studios in Trinity, Jillian is surrounded by student athletes. Now more aware of what to look for, she was seeing signs in her dancers that brought concern. She reached out to Who We Play for and they offered free ECG screenings to the dancers at her studio. Luckily, all her dancers received clean scans. She now plans to offer the scans annually. “It takes three minutes. It takes longer to put the electrodes on your body than it does to run the test.”
Gavin will be managing his condition for the rest of his life, but it doesn’t keep him completely on the sidelines. While he needs to be more careful than other kids his age, you can find him kicking the soccer ball or playing pickleball with his friends. He’s discovered new passions like gaming and watching endurance racing. What it has done is made him an advocate for others. He’s committed to giving back to other student athletes by joining Who We Play For in college, offering ECG tests and sharing his story to help other kids live long and healthy lives.
You can find free screenings in your area, or sign up to host screenings at your student athlete program location, by reaching out to Who We Play For at whoweplayfor.org.