Editor’s Note: On January 26, 2003, Erin Anderegg experienced a mother’s worst nightmare; the death of her daughter, Sara Kathleen Schacht, due to sudden cardiac arrest. Today would have been Sara’s 26th birthday, had heart disease not taken her away from us. Erin shares her daughter’s story in today’s guest blog post. (Sara’s sisters also dedicate a blog post to Sara today.)

Don’t ever forget the little things in life. Each day, we all take the little things for granted: first smile, steps, haircut, and the list goes on.

When your child gets older, you look forward to the other firsts in their lives: first prom, homecoming, drivers license, high school graduation, and more. This is where my firsts end in the short life of my daughter Sara Kathleen Schacht.

Sara with friends at school

Sara died from sudden cardiac arrest on Jan 26, 2003, after a day of college classes. As she watched a movie with her boyfriend, she took her last breath.

It took me two days to finally let her go. I never got to say goodbye, watch her graduate from college and follow her dream of being a physical therapist, be there to plan her wedding or become a grandmother with my oldest daughter. More firsts I will never have with Sara.

Best friend Kasia Palys writes, "Sara and I the last time we went out. New Years Eve 2003."

Sara was a beautiful, active child who excelled and worked hard for everything she wanted throughout her life. Her high school sport of choice was track and field, she participated in 4-H for 11 years, and country music could be heard everyday when she was around. Her friends all laughed, as they never listened to country music until Sara became a part of their lives.

In November, 1999, Sara was diagnosed  with viral cardiomyopathy after a sore throat brought her to the doctor. The diagnosis was worse than any parent ever wanted to hear: The viral infection (her sore throat) caused an enlarged heart.

We were told she could live a long life.
Although Sara followed the rules and took her medications, she died of sudden cardiac arrest.

Now, we take “the little things” in life and make new memories of Sara.

Raising money for AED placements (click to enlarge)

Since her death, we have held five memorial benefits in her memory and were able to purchase automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for all public, private, and municipal buildings throughout Woodstock, Illinois and McHenry County. (You are welcome to email me at fireupyourheart84@yahoo.com for how you can help or click on the “donate” button below.)

Since Sara’s death, we have helped place AEDs in all of our city buildings, many police cars, sheriff cars, all our public and private schools, and various other places. We have been instrumental in getting the word out by working with former Lieutenant Governor, now Governor of Illinois, Pat Quinn in placing laws that mandate AED placement in all schools and health facilities in Illinois.

So today, on Sara’s 26^th birthday, please do not take for granted the “little things” in life. Always kiss your kids goodbye. Never forget to say your sorry. Make the time to listen to what they have to say. Someday you may not have that opportunity.

From my heart to all of you, please make AEDs mandatory in all schools and save a life.

Happy Birthday, Angel, miss you more every day. – MOM

P.S. God forbid you are in my situation (or not!), I recommend you get in touch with a true AED Expert, Mark Hermes from Cardiac Science. He has done more for this cause than I can recant here.

Will you donate to help place AEDs in Sara's honor? Click here to ask Erin for details.

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• Our sister Sara would have been 26 today if not for cardiac arrest - March 2nd, 2010

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