Diane Mayfield holds her son, Mark, as a toddler. Mark died at 17 from sudden cardiac arrest.
DIANE MAYFIELD
Mishawaka’s Dylan Hall (24) and John Glenn’s Zac Mago (5) fight for a rebound during the John Glenn at Mishawka High School boys basketball game Friday, Feb. 16, 2018. Tribune Photo/MICHAEL CATERINA
Jake West’s older sister Courtney speaks about Jake before the crowd at Kiwanis Field Sunday afternoon.
Jake West, died from rhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, a condition in which the ventricular walls thin and turn to fat, leaving the heart unable to pump blood.
Mark Mayfield
New Prairie players warm up as a sign honoring the late Mark Mayfield hangs in right field before the Saint Joseph at New Prairie High School baseball game Wednesday, April 12, 2017. Tribune Photo/MICHAEL CATERINA
Julie West got a tattoo of a message her son Jake West wrote to her. “I’ll love you always. Love, Jacob.”
DANA BENBOW/INDYSTAR
A jersey honoring the late Mark Mayfield hangs in the dugout during the Saint Joseph at New Prairie High School baseball game Wednesday, April 12, 2017. Tribune Photo/MICHAEL CATERINA
Washington’s Josh Wilson and Glenn’s Zac Mago battle for a rebound Tuesday, January 26, 2016, during the South Bend Washington-Glenn boys basketball game at the Falcons gym. Tribune Photo/GREG SWIERCZ
Zac Mago, a basketball player at John Glenn High, was planning on taking over the family business after college. He died of sudden cardiac at 17.
TERESA MAGO
Zac Mago was the middle child and loved to tease his siblings that he had the most potential of all of them.
TERESA MAGO
Jake West (26) played football for LaPorte. “You don’t want to just have pictures of your child. You want to physically hug them anytime you want. You want to be able to watch them celebrate every precious birthday here on earth,” said his mom Julie West.
JULIE WEST
Julie West with son Jake as a little guy. He always said “I love you momma,” she said.
JULIE WEST
Jake West died in 2013 after collapsing on the field during football practice at LaPorte High.
JULIE WEST
Teresa Mago wears a necklace each day honoring her son Zac Mago. Just below to the right of the charms is a white ink tattoo of Zac’s thumbprint.
DANA BENBOW/INDYSTAR
Through the losses of their sons, three mothers have come together to support one another and raise awareness for sudden cardiac arrest. From right to left, moms Diane Westfield, Teresa Mago and Julie West. Far left is Tonya Aerts, a friend and New Prairie High teacher who is fighting with these mothers to raise awareness.
DANA BENBOW/INDYSTAR
Diane Mayfield shows the tattoo on her inside wrist of her son Mark Mayfield’s name in his handwriting. She got the tattoo shortly after he died of sudden cardiac arrest.
DANA BENBOW/INDYSTAR
Diane Mayfield, Julie West and Teresa Mago hold portraits of their teenage sons Mark Mayfield, Jake West and Zac Mago, all high school athletes who died of sudden cardiac arrest.
DANA BENBOW/INDYSTAR PHOTO ILLUSTRATION
From left, Diane Mayfield, Julie West, Tonya Aerts (a New Prairie High teacher who advocates for sudden cardiac arrest awareness) and Teresa Mago, stand surrounded by photos of their sons inside the Play For Jake Foundation.
DANA BENBOW/INDYSTAR
Zac Mago played basketball for John Glenn High. He died in his bedroom from sudden cardiac arrest at 17.
