From Crisis to Comeback: How Specialized Care Got Daverion Back in the Game

It was the third quarter of a rainy rivalry football game when the opposing team’s quarterback collided with 14-year-old Daverion Davis. The hit looked normal, so even when Daverion didn’t get up right away, no one panicked when the medical team went on the field. But within a few minutes, the entire stadium would be engulfed in silent shock and prayer as Daverion went into sudden cardiac arrest.  

“I thought he’d gotten the wind knocked out of him,” explained Elijah Davis, Daverion’s dad. “I saw his legs moving, so I didn’t think it was serious, but I still headed down to the sideline. I saw a member of the medical team running for the sideline, so his coach and I started to walk towards Daverion. I began to realize something was very wrong, so I waved my wife down to the field.” 

Elijah was shocked to see his son foaming at the mouth and fighting for breath. As they ripped off Daverion’s jersey and pads, the medical team quickly told Elijah that he was seizing. Daverion’s mom Regina reached them quickly and began praying.  

“I was holding his hand, and Daverion kept saying ‘Mom,’” Regina recalled. “I could see that the seizing was getting worse, then he went still and stopped breathing. The trainer said she couldn’t find a pulse, so someone started CPR and someone else went for an AED.”  

Life-Saving Teamwork 

Sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the heart unexpectedly stops beating — a rare, but life-threatening emergency. After calling 911, bystanders can help by performing CPR and using an AED, short for automated external defibrillator. This portable device delivers an electric shock to help restart the heart. AEDs are designed to be used by people without medical training while help is on the way, and they are often located in public areas where quick access can save a life.  

After two shocks with the AED, Daverion’s heartbeat and breath returned. As he was transported via ambulance to Our Lady Of The Lake Children’s Hospital in Baton Rouge, Daverion was confused, but alert and able to answer questions. All immediate tests showed no concerns, so Daverion was referred to Manning Family Children’s Heart Center.  

Since 2022, Our Lady of the Lake and Manning Family Children’s have partnered to improve access to specialized pediatric care and improve the health of Louisiana’s children.    

“Daverion’s case is a remarkable example of the benefits of this partnership,” explained Scott Macicek, MD, cardiologist and electrophysiologist at Manning Family Children’s and Daverion’s specialist. “He was able to continue receiving day-to-day care close to home in Baton Rouge, while I provide specialized care from New Orleans.” 

Getting Back on the Field 

After meeting Daverion, Dr. Macicek began searching for underlying conditions that could have caused his sudden cardiac arrest. When all test results came back normal, it became clear that Daverion had experienced commotio cordis, a rare event that occurs when a blow to the chest lands at just the wrong moment in the heart’s electrical cycle. It’s the same phenomenon that affected NFL player Damar Hamlin in January 2023, and while incredibly rare, it can happen in any contact sport. 

“Damar is my favorite player now,” Daverion said. “After my experience, I watched a lot of his videos and took courage and inspiration from him. A lot of people thought he wouldn’t play again or that he wouldn’t be as good as he was, but he’s even better now. I’m looking forward to being better on the field this year too.”  

In March, seven months after his collapse, Dr. Macicek cleared Daverion for football and continues to remotely monitor Daverion as he prepares for the upcoming season.  

“We implanted a loop recorder, a small device that sits inside the chest wall just under the skin, that continuously monitors Daverion’s heart rhythm,” Dr. Macicek explained. “Each month, I receive a report on how his heart is doing. And, if the device detects anything concerning, I’ll get an alert so that we can respond quickly to ensure Daverion’s safety.” 

A New Page in the Playbook 

The experience has also inspired Elijah and Regina to pursue CPR training, and they encourage other families to do the same.   

“That’s the message I want parents and student athletes to take away from Daverion’s story,” Dr. Macicek said. “It’s important to understand that commotio cordis is incredibly rare. In fact, at a high school game of any sport, it is more likely that an adult will have a heart attack than it is for an athlete to experience a cardiac emergency. The lesson is that everyone should know how to perform CPR and where the nearest AED is located.”  

While Elijah and Regina don’t expect they’ll be able to sit during Daverion’s first game back on the field, they aren’t worried.  

“Before every game, I’ve told him to pray before he steps on the field,” Regina said. “Daverion has deep faith for someone his age, and we have no doubt that God was with us that night. So, we’ll be anxious at the first game, but we aren’t afraid. We’ll continue to support him in pursuing his dreams and testimony.”  

Manning Family Children’s is dedicated to improving access to care because every child deserve the best, no matter where they call home. Click here to learn more about our pediatric cardiology services and the expert care we provide for Louisiana’s smallest hearts.  

The Parenting Center at Manning Family Children's provides infant and child CPR (newborn-8 years) and adult CPR (9 years-adult) classes in both English and Spanish. To register for CPR training with the Parenting Center, click here.

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About Manning Family Children’s:

Manning Family Children’s is a 263-bed, non-profit academic pediatric medical center that offers comprehensive healthcare services, including over 40 pediatric specialties, just for children. With more than 600 pediatric providers, Manning Family Children’s offers a comprehensive array of specialized pediatric services in Louisiana and the Gulf South. In addition to its main campus located in New Orleans, Children’s operates a network of specialty clinics across Louisiana, including in Covington, Baton Rouge, Alexandria, Lafayette, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Children’s offers primary care at 17 convenient locations, along with a network of statewide pediatric affiliations. Children’s is a proud member of LCMC Health, a Louisiana-based, not-for-profit hospital system which also includes New Orleans East Hospital, Touro, University Medical Center New Orleans, West Jefferson Medical Center, East Jefferson General Hospital, Lakeview Hospital, and Lakeside Hospital. Learn more at manningchildrens.org.