Chad, a Celebration of Life Beyond a Mother's Memories

Chad Alan Butrum traversed the Earth for twenty-six years. To honour the moments of his Life, his artist mother Arista takes us on a journey of Love, Life and Laughter, as the young family forges new dreams from Detroit to Chicago, St. Louis, Malibu, and last stop New York City. After the unexpected loss of Chad to Sudden Cardiac Death as he played football, Arista finds herself in what she calls 'Castle Carolco, in the land of Hollywood.' Through his colleagues, she discovers the young man Chad was becoming - the promise of a talented creative writer who touched the lives of many people in his short Life. He was a 'young senator who wore a baseball/football uniform and loved all people- any age, any heritage, any orientation.'
In Part II, Beyond A Mother's Memories, the author transcends loss into a quest for "Living," by founding the non-profit organization, The Chad Foundation for Athletes and Artists to safeguard young hearts so they can live long, healthy Lives and reach their most cherished dreams. It also inspires youth to live as its namesake did- anti-substance abuse and alcohol-free, "Healthy Body/Mind/ Spirit." (Chad never smoked a cigarette or drank an alcoholic beverage his entire Life.) To date, "The Chad Foundation Cardiovascular Screening Program" has provided 8,000 Echocardiograms in 5 states and, globally, in Austria and Sweden. She encounters many parents who have also lost children to SCD, and their heartfelt stories are shared within underscoring the critical importance of raising awareness of Sudden Cardiac Death in the Young, implementing preventive heart screenings, knowledge of CPR, and placement of AEDs. It is a journey of the Heart and the discovery that "The Heart is the Home of our two greatest gifts - Love and Life," and must be safeguarded as our most valued possession.