Pacemaker sidelines cheerleader

[catwoman]

This is from the Dallas Morning News' website. I saw a blurb about on the 10 p.m. news last night.

My comment: School is concerned that if she's at the bottom and has a heart-related problem, others at the top of the pyramid could be hurt. Hey, someone has to be at the top or middle, why not her instead of at the bottom?

I'd be interested in knowing more about the condition that warranted a pacemaker and if another cardiologist would back up the first cardiologist who released her for cheerleading.

Any comments out there?




Pacemaker sidelines SMU cheerleader

07:28 AM CDT on Tuesday, September 9, 2008
By DEBBIE DENMON / WFAA-TV
Jamie Burns landed a scholarship to SMU for cheerleading, but because of a heart condition that requires her to use a pacemaker, she's being told she can't cheer for the school.
"Cheerleading has always been my life," Ms. Burns said. "I've always pushed myself to get better at tumbling, jumps, everything."
Her coach told her Friday that because her condition is not covered by the university's insurance policy, she cannot perform with her squad.
Ms. Burns' cardiologist sent release forms stating that she can perform without restrictions. Ms. Burns also signed a waiver of liability saying she would not sue the university if something did happen.
"It's not only the liability for this individual student," said Lori White, the university's vice president of student affairs.
"For example, if she's at the base of a pyramid and something were to happen to her and she collapses, then she may also injure other students," she said.
SMU officials told Ms. Burns that she would not lose her scholarship, but she could only stand on the sidelines and clap and chant.
"It's not right," Ms. Burns said. "If they didn't want me to cheer to begin with, then they should have probably said that at the beginning and not gotten my hopes up as far as they have now. I feel like I'm being cheated for no reason. There's nothing wrong with me."
SMU said it will further review her case and get another doctor's opinion.

 

[zipper2]

Well pretty quiet on this post and i,m up so add my
2 cents for what it's worth.It should be interesting
to see the result on this poor young lady,being let
off the team for cheerleading,and cus i don't know
enough regarding,pacemakers and the electrical harnessing
etc. I want to say Life sucks sometimes again and again.
I agree her position cheerleader is alot of work,good coordination
stamina,lots of energy,tumbles,flips,and jumps. You likely need
lift yourself and others in the air.I can see the schools reaction
if like me aren't educated enough to know limits if any with a
pacemaker.It should be interesting who SMU gets to further
this review in her case of another Doc.
It's kind of neither are right or wrong till proven quilty or
not quilty regarding this matter.I do feel for the young girl
who will still be given her scholarship.....but big deal it's
not the same intention if she can't be part of it.My question too is
what are the safety issues of a pacemaker,besides taken off
a cheerleading team? Can we listen to ipods,can we use cell
phones,can we be near computers,microwaves,
are there true studies and answers to any of my questions
as well,and they never said truly why they removed her other
than she has a pacemaker device for a heart condition?I can't
quite remember what the article said you submitted above,as to
why she got a pacemaker.
But does anyone know the restrictions on a pacemaker if there
are any? Guess i better do some reading,I could well be a candidate
for one also someday.....you never know
Very interesting news brief Catwoman,let us know more.

zipper2 (DEB)

 

[Nancy]

I was a cheerleader many moons ago, and I broke my back by over rotating it in a maneuver and had to leave my cheerleading career behind. It is something I live with every day. Even though it is a stress fracture, and has long ago healed as far as it can go, it still gives me a lot of pain, particularly in the morning.

Those were in the days when cheerleading was less sternuous than it is today. There is a lot of gymnastics, lifting, bumping and probably falling during practice sessions.

If my daughter were on the cheerleading squad these days, and had to get a pacemaker, I would make her leave the squad. It is too dangerous. If she got a serious injury to her shoulder or a heavy bump there, it is possible that the leads could be compromised.

Life isn't fair at times.

 

[AgilityDog]

I heard about this yesterday, and was p.o.'d for the girl. But I refrained from starting a thread. Having been a student there during the years for which the "death penalty" was imposed, and having seen the shenanigans first hand, SMU is not high on my respect list.
Have they heard about "reasonable accommodation" and the A.D.A.? They're not worrying about HER getting hurt, they're worried about someone else. Reasonable accommodation (remember they do have male cheerleaders, who are usually the bottom row on those cheers) would solve the problem. Depending upon what condition she has, the pacemaker may reduce the chance of someone else being hurt, and therefore she should be allowed to participate, given that they were willing to let her participate without it.
We all know anyone can get hurt cheerleading, in fact there are more severe injuries to cheerleaders than to the football players!
I'm waiting on the other doctor's report, and hoping for the best for her.
Being a graduate of SMU, I'm entitled to say "typical" and give the school the raspberry. Trust me, if she was a football player, they'd let her play in an instant!
They ought to offer her the position of Peruna Runner, as a minimum. She'd probably make a better Peruna Runner than the guys, anyway. (and if you don't know who/what Peruna is--PTTTHHHHHTTTT !)

 

[Snoviper]

I would say as long as the doctor released her and said it was ok. The PM would closely monitor her and kick in if needed, If she is not paced at 100% of the time. Probably less chance of her having a heart issue then one of the other kids without a PM.

 

[catwoman]

Update!!

Update!!

This is from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Oct. 8, 2008).


Bud Kennedy: Cheerleader will be flying high again
By BUD [email protected]
Jamie Burns is no longer the world?s only grounded cheerleader.
Three weeks after officials at Southern Methodist University told the Colleyville sophomore to stop jumping during football games, Burns and her heart pacemaker will be high-kicking for the Mustangs again Saturday when SMU plays a team from Oklahoma.

No, not that team from Oklahoma. (Thank goodness.)

The Mustangs will play the University of Tulsa. But one 19-year-old on the SMU sideline will be happy, win or lose.

Burns, a former L.D. Bell High School cheerleader, was told Sept. 12 not to jump or even kick, one game into her SMU career. She transferred there this fall after a freshman year at Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls.

An SMU official told WFAA/Channel 8 that cheerleaders with pacemakers weren?t covered under the university?s insurance and that it was risky to include her in jumps, flips or stunts.

"They were talking about me fainting," Burns said Tuesday, getting ready for another TV interview after national news networks picked up on the story. "But there isn?t a chance of that. They wanted me to stop doing everything that cheerleaders do."

Originally, Burns says, she was told to stand to the side and clap. Because she wasn?t allowed to do stunts or tumble, she also missed three weeks of workouts.

After the first news report, SMU officials agreed to seek more opinions. Burns? cardiologist, Dr. Paul Gillette of Fort Worth, had originally sent his OK for her to cheer. In a statement, Lori White, vice president for student affairs, said this week that Burns was cleared after an "important medical review process."

White?s statement thanked Burns for her "patience and understanding."

Burns? mother, Marge, a nursing director at a Fort Worth rehabilitation hospital, had originally told a TV reporter that SMU was being unfair to an athlete with a pacemaker.

Now, she?s happy.

"Jamie wants to be at SMU," Marge Burns said. "She loves the coach. We are thrilled that she can cheer for SMU."

Burns developed a heart condition in fifth grade, her mother said. Doctors implanted a pacemaker in 2003.

Jamie Burns said her mother and father, Robert, have imagined her as a cheerleader ever since she was 3 and taking ballet at Doubletake Dance Studio in Bedford.

Or it was supposed to be ballet.

"When my turn came in the recital, I just did cartwheels all the way down the stage," she said. "They said, 'That girl is going to be a cheerleader.? "

She went on to Bedford Junior High, the Bell team and SMU. She hopes to someday go to medical school.

She wants to be a family-practice doctor.

She has a heart for helping other little cheerleaders.