Basketball Preview: Disorder causes Washington’s Kayla Burt to reevaluate life on, off court

It has almost been one year since Kayla Burt stepped on the
hardwood floor for the University of Washington.

However, the memory of the time when she once laced up her shoes
and played competitive basketball still remains deep inside.

“I’ll always love the game,” Burt said.
“But, it’s different for me now. Basketball isn’t
everything, and now I appreciate my life more than ever.”

Nearly one year ago, Burt was diagnosed with a condition called
Long Q-T Syndrome, a rare genetic disease.

LQTS is an infrequent, hereditary disorder of the heart’s
electrical rhythms. It can occur even in the healthiest of
individuals, and like many, Burt was unaware that she had this
condition.

On Dec. 31, 2002, LQTS nearly took Burt’s life away.

Then a sophomore guard, Burt decided to celebrate the coming new
year at a Seattle home with five of her teammates.

But the celebration was cut short when Burt began to feel faint.
In a matter of seconds, she wound up on the ground with her heart
no longer beating.

Despite vaguely knowing how to apply CPR, the Huskies did not
buckle under pressure and were able to revitalize Burt.

“I call them my angels,” Burt said. “They are
the reason why I’m still here.

“I call them my sisters. We have this bond that is so
solid that it’ll never be broken.”

Fortunately, Burt recovered.

“At the time, it was really a touch and go
situation,” coach June Doherty said. “Fortunately those
kids that were there were smart enough to get on the phone as soon
as possible and were able to perform CPR to give Kayla a chance to
live.

“For me, it was a very difficult situation to listen to
them on the phone with the players and everyone screaming and
panicking.”

Though Burt will no longer be able to play the game of
basketball competitively, she has remained with the Huskies, but in
a different capacity. She is now a student assistant.

Burt is behind the scenes in preparation for away games, but
more importantly, she acts as a student coach running up and down
the sidelines.

“I know the system pretty well, so I try to do whatever I
can to help out the younger players on the team,” Burt said.
“It’s really rewarding being able to be involved with
the program. The fact that I get to travel and be with the team, it
makes me just want to give back to the team for everything that
they’ve done for me.”

Doherty has nothing but praises for Burt’s role as a
member of the coaching staff.

“She’s doing a terrific job adjusting from a
starting impact player to a coach on the sidelines,” Doherty
said. “Certainly she would like to be playing, but
she’s been really advantageous to the team because she
relates well with her peers. When Kayla says something, they are
all ears and eyes because they all want to get better.”

With less than one month away from the occurrence, Burt’s
life has undoubtedly changed.

“My life has taken a complete 180,” Burt said.
“My view on life, my friends and my family has changed
drastically in that I don’t take anything for granted
anymore.

“You never know what’s going to happen the next day.
Every day is a gift from God, and with every day, I feel like I
have another chance at life. My goal is to take advantage and to
use what I’ve been given to help others.”

Six days after the occurrence, an electronic defibrillator was
implanted in Burt’s chest to decrease the possibility of any
repeat cardiac arrest.

Defibrillator or no defibrillator, Burt is in as good of shape
as she has ever been, but she still has her apprehension toward the
game of basketball.

“I feel as healthy and active as if nothing has
changed,” Burt said.

“But, if the doctors cleared me the next day I’d
have a hard time putting on the uniform again because there’s
always a possibility of that risk. It would take a lot for me to
get back.”

Burt was back on her own two feet just nine days after the
occurrence.

She was introduced as the sixth man in front of over 4,000
screaming fans when Washington faced Arizona State, and Burt
watched and cheered from the bench as the Huskies went on to defeat
the Sun Devils.

“It felt like you we were on pins and needles when she
stepped back on the court,” Doherty said. “Everyone was
happy and she was just glowing. She was radiant and you could tell
that she could feel the love from the crowd. So many people there
and they were there to support Kayla and her teammates.

“It was awesome and it’s definitely something to
look back on that can still give you goosebumps.”

Not only was the victory bittersweet for Burt, but the fact that
she was able to experience it, was something special.

“When you’re actively playing I feel that you get
overly caught up in winning and losing,” Burt said.
“But for me, I’ve realized that when you’re given
a second chance at life, you definitely see things in a different
light.”

Washington will play UCLA at Pauley Pavilion on Jan. 11. Last
season, the Bruins defeated the Huskies by 26 on Jan. 3, but in
their second meeting on Feb. 1, Washington routed UCLA, 111-77.

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