Archer Community Heart Health Awareness Project

Hi, my name is Fred D. Archer III and on October 27th, 2024, I died, due to a cardiac arrythmia, a disruption in the electrical activity of my heart. It’s surreal to write that sentence, but I thank God and so many people for the quick, disciplined and knowledgeable actions that saved me, so that I can write that sentence. If it wasn’t for the amazing and timely reactions of my wife, son, our neighbors, the Snyder Fire Company, Twin City EMS, Buffalo General Hospital GVI and CVICU staff, I would not be here today. As irony would have it, the morning of October 27, 2024, I was the Chairman of the American Heart Association Cycle Nation event held at the ADPRO Sports Training House for the Buffalo Bills. Their mission is to bring awareness and education for stroke and heart health to the community. Our family has always had a commitment to service and heart disease and stroke affect everyone in Western New York, and indeed around the world. 

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I’m a Pediatrician by training and have been working in healthcare for my entire adult life. I have worked with countless families, students, residents and fellow providers giving people the information and tools to help them make the best possible decisions for their family’s health. I was now on the other side and knew that there are things that as good as we are, we could do better. If I was here, was blessed enough to have received the care that I had, I had to do something more with that gift. I started thinking what about the family where a 5- or 6-year-old is home with an older grandparent while their parents are working, and a cardiac event happens? Can that child at least get to a phone and call 911? What about the neighbor that collapses outside just getting the mail or walking the dog, could a passerby start CPR? On TV or in a training class, these events are structured, controlled, calm. In the real world, it is loud, uncoordinated and messy. Can we better prepare people to keep calm and carry on during one of the most stressful experiences someone can experience? Then there is the post-hospitalization phase, that is physical, emotional, mental, spiritual and a lot for anyone to process. There are known physical rehab programs, but where can a survivor, family member, friend, neighbor receive mental rehab after experiencing something so traumatic? That is a lot to deal with for folks that have the resources, let alone families that are already struggling with the everyday or individuals who don’t have a robust network of support.

I wish to raise funds to:

• Bring more awareness to heart health in all communities of Western New York: urban, suburban, rural, and New Americans.

• Facilitate more Hands Only CPR training for all community members in their language, including children with real life scenarios that will instill confidence and discipline when someone is most scared to save the life of a loved one, friend or stranger.

 Assist with linking individuals and families with support (counseling, meals, house cleaning…) for the post hospitalization phase, so they can have the best recovery outcomes.

Update!: I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to help us with our mission. That shows how the issue of heart health truly affects everyone and your caring and generosity are going to help improve awareness and outcomes. And we couldn’t do it without your support! We’ve already started connecting with community organizations and should be getting word out soon on when we’ll host some CPR training events. The next phase after that is working on supplying small groups with AED’s, which can be truly life saving. We’ll be posting this and other updates on our site. Again, thank you for helping us in our mission to help the Western New York Community!