HOLDEN — It’s been more than 11 years since the Thibodeau family lost their 12-year-old son Josh after he collapsed while playing soccer. Although the pain is still a constant and heartbreaking presence in their lives, they remain committed to channeling their grief into doing something good through the foundation created in his name.
The Josh Thibodeau Helping Hearts Foundation is dedicated to raising awareness in preventing sudden cardiac arrest, or SCA, in children and adolescents, and providing charitable assistance to individuals, families and organizations. In the 11 years since Josh’s parents Deb and Ralph Thibodeau founded the nonprofit organization, they have donated 84 automated external defibrillators, or AEDs, at a cost of more than $1,000 each. The AIDs are easy-to-use medical devices used to help those experiencing sudden cardiac arrest.
“We learned that if Josh had had an electrocardiogram (ECG) that his condition might have been detected,” said Deb, who serves as the foundation’s executive director while her husband serves as treasurer. “We didn’t want any family to go through what we have, and wanted to raise awareness about heart conditions in youth.”
Over the years, the foundation has awarded $23,000 in scholarships to Wachusett Regional High School and Mountview Middle School students, funded $8,000 for CPR training for Worcester Public Schools, screened more than 1,200 students for cardiac issues and heart conditions, facilitated and funded WRHS coaches getting certified in CPR, and more.
Josh’s story July 18, 2011, began like any other day for two parents rushing their kids out the door for summer activities. Their three boys had soccer camp, and one of their two daughters was headed to dance camp. In the story behind the foundation portion on the foundation website, Deb wrote that the family was “all tired, and a little cranky” having attended the New England Revolution’s annual Futbolito soccer tournament the day before.
Deb and Ralph, who have lived in town for a total of 23 years now, did the divide and conquer dance so many parents are familiar with and split up, with Deb taking the girls in her car and Ralph transporting the boys.
“In my haste I never said ‘bye’ or ‘I love you’ to the boys (life lesson here). Rush, rush, rush. Can’t be late,” Deb penned.
After doing drop-offs, she and her husband and their youngest daughter returned home. The couple grabbed some coffee, and Deb remembers them discussing how they were going to start enjoying their kids more and “be better parents” when the phone rang. It was their oldest son in a panic, telling them that Josh had had a seizure and that they needed to come quick.
“I screamed, ‘Not Josh!’” Deb remembers saying. “I can still hear that panicked, squeaky voice in my head today.”
They grabbed their youngest and rushed to the school where the soccer camp was being held, only a short distance from their home in town. They ran as fast as they could up the hill and came upon Josh lying there on the turf field.
“Our boys, and those attending the camp, saw him fall chin first,” Deb recalled. “The EMTs were there, repeatedly shocking our sweet, dirty, 12-year-old with a defibrillator.”
They continued with the defibrillator on the ambulance ride to the hospital. Deb watched and prayed as the scene unfolded, and then doctors took over in the ER. Joshua ‘Moose’ Daniel Thibodeau was pronounced dead one hour after his collapse on the soccer field.
His autopsy results came back with the diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or HCM.
“How could we not know he had a heart condition?” Deb wrote. “One family member, an R.N., said to me ‘you just don’t go there’ with a seemingly heathy child.
“Could Josh’s death have been prevented? Maybe. Josh exhibited some shortness of breath while running and playing soccer. He was given an inhaler and being treated for exercise- induced asthma, which he didn’t have. He thought this ‘helped a ton.’ Once or twice he complained of a brief chest pain, but replied when asked, ‘Yeah, I’m fine.’” Josh’s family understandably started going down the ‘What if?’ rabbit hole.
“What if Josh had an ECG or echocardiogram as a routine screening tool or answered a questionnaire that’s purpose is to detect heart problems in student athletes? What if?”
Their story doesn’t end there, as one of Josh’s siblings was diagnosed based on ECG findings and genetic tests with Long QT Syndrome, a completely different potentially fatal heart arrythmia.
“Are you kidding me?” Deb wrote. “What if he DIDN’T have an ECG? We will never know if Josh’s life could have been saved, but it most probably could have been prolonged. I’d give anything to see his smiling, freckly face one more time … or for one more day.” 9th annual soccer tournament The foundation’s 9th annual Josh Classic 4 v 4 Soccer Tournament is coming up on Oct. 9 at Wachusett Regional High School, just one of the many ways his family strives to keep Josh’s memory alive and help spread awareness about cardiac screening and their mission, to hopefully prevent other families from going through the tragedy they have.
“To date, they have been very successful in terms of donations, community involvement, and fun,” Deb said of the tournament. “It’s a great family- fun day filled with soccer, food, raffles, activities for the kids, and camaraderie.”
So far 25 teams are signed up for the tournament, where there will be free Moose’s Minions U10 and special needs Rock Stars soccer activities. Deb said they are hoping to get a bunch more teams, but she is “a bit concerned that our numbers may be down due to a two-year COVID hiatus and the fact that the younger families and players aren’t aware of us and what and why we do what we do.”
Ages from U7/U8 up to adults are welcome to participate in the tournament, and the $100 cost per team goes directly to the foundation.
When asked what they are looking forward to with the tournament’s return, Deb said “seeing children and adults enjoying themselves, playing soccer, and getting together. The day is about honoring a boy who loved the sport and his friends and helping others.”
As for what she misses most about her son, the answer was simple: “Everything.”
“Josh had an energy about him that was about goofiness, fun, but was also sensitive and very caring,” she said, adding that she thinks “he’d get a kick out of seeing his name on the T-shirts, banners, etc.” when it comes to the foundation and the great things they are doing for the community in his name.
“I just want to say that we are so grateful to the community for showing up and sharing their time, talent and treasure in order to help us do what we do. We couldn’t do this without the support of others. We are very grateful.”
To sign up for the soccer tournament, visit joshthibodeau9thannualsoccerclassic. eventbrite.com, and for more information, visit josththibodeauhelpinghearts. com and follow The Josh Thibodeau Helping Hearts Foundation on Facebook and Instagram.
