Colorado Springs mom recounts son’s story after he died from a cardiac condition playing football

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Throughout a Colorado Springs high school are reminders of a young athlete gone too soon. In Harrison High School, the trophy case, football locker, and stadium all include memorabilia in honor of #63, Fermin Vialpando.

"He always like had a plan for everything for his life," said Sundae Romero, Fermin's mom. "He was always worried about everyone else and just had a big heart."

On October 6, 2006, at 17 years old, his big heart gave out. Vialpando was running onto the football field during the Panther's homecoming game when he collapsed.

"I saw his coach walking over to me and he was just talking to me. I don’t even remember what he was saying, but I got over there and they were just asking me questions. I just remember them just saying that they were going to take him to the hospital," said Romero.

Vialpando was pronounced dead at the hospital. His family would later learn from the coroner he had a heart condition. According to Romero, an artery leading to his heart was at an angle.

"It just like, shut off and that just took him," explained Romero. "That was hard."

It's been 16 years and it's still hard. She said some of the feelings she experienced that night came back after watching Buffalo Bills Damar Hamlin suffer a cardiac arrest during Monday Night Football. Romero said she had just started watching football again this season because of how much her son loved it.

"I just want to pray for that family," said Romero. "I happen to look up right when it happened. It's just for that guy's family, I just feel for them because I know and I’m glad they were able to resuscitate that guy, but you just never know," said Romero.

According to The Sports Institute, sudden cardiac arrest is the number one cause of sudden death in young athletes with about 2,000 young people dying each year.

For concerned parents, Romero's advice for parents is to let their kids play - just use precautions.

"I would say if you’re child wants to do it just try to be proactive with making sure they go to the doctor. Football has been around forever and you can’t, It’s just one of them things where you just have to trust and pray that everything goes well. I wouldn’t stop Fermin even knowing now," said Romero.