ABOUT HEATHER
FRELIGH
Heather’s Story: A Life Saved, A Mission Ignited
On September 22, 2023, a normal school day turned into a fight for life. Fifteen-year-old Heather Freligh an athlete, scholar, and compassionate leader collapsed in her classroom from sudden cardiac arrest. Within moments, her heart stopped. Her classmates called for help. A principal, recently trained in CPR, began lifesaving compressions. First responders arrived, delivering four shocks before her heart finally beat again. For 28 long hours, her family waited, not knowing if she would survive.
Against all odds, Heather did.
She woke up in the ICU confused, scared, but alive and holding her fathers hand where he cried when she squeezed his hand. After weeks of critical care and a heart surgery to implant a life-saving device (ICD), Heather walked out of the hospital smiling, fully recovered and nothing short of a miracle form God. But her story didn’t end there. It had just begun.
Heather chose to turn her survival into purpose.
What could have been a tragedy became a movement. Heather found her voice first in small rooms, then across California, and eventually in Washington, D.C. She spoke about the importance of womens health, CPR training, emergency preparedness, and access to AEDs in schools. Despite fear and anxiety, she stood before lawmakers, sharing the moment she died, was saved and why others don’t have to suffer as she did.
Her courage led to real change. Legislation was passed in California to improve emergency response in schools named in her honor: The Heather Freligh Act, signed into law by Governor Newsom in 2024.
Since then, Heather has helped raise nearly $1 million for heart health, research, and lifesaving training. She has been recognized nationally, won awards nationally, becoming a National Ambassador, a “Heart Hero,” and a Young Survivor Champion. Heather produces art which is nationally and sold to benefit heart health and support non-profit foundations. She advocates for inclusivity working to bring AED access and training to the deaf community and continues to inspire thousands through speaking, leadership, and service. Heathers Story continues and has lead to an acceptance at Harvard secondary summer school in 2026 where she will learn from the best and bring it back to California to improve everyones life around her.
Through it all, Heather lives with a simple but powerful belief:
Life is short. What matters is each other.
Her story is proof that one life saved can ripple outward, changing families, communities, laws, and even a nation. At just 15 years old, Heather has shown that a single voice, even a young one, can echo far beyond what anyone imagines. Anything is possibly when you keep putting one foot in-front of another.
And she’s just getting started.
Heather’s Accomplishments & Awards Include:
-Local Ambassador for the American Heart Association (AHA) 2024.
-American Heart Association Washington D.C. featured speaker. May 2024
-American Heart Association Sacramento Heart Ball featured speaker. March 2024
-National Ambassador for American Heart Association 2025-2026.
-2024 California law AB2887 advocate/primary speaker. Renamed “Heather Freligh Act.”
-Ambassador for the AHA Kids Heart Challenge.
-Ambassador for AHA Heart Walk.
-Pod Cast with Miss California Teen and Miss Hamilton in Texas.
-Pod Cast with Mrs. Brazil / Miss Florida, Jana Bonassi.
-Jr. Board member on Kyle J. Taylor Foundation for SCA and heart screenings. 24’ -26’
-Youth Advisory Member on City of Tracy Council 2024 – 2026.
-Participant in Yale University study for sudden cardiac arrest in athletes. 25’ - 26’
-Participant in UCSF study for sudden cardiac arrest in youth.
-National Heart Hero Award from American Heart Association. Sept. 2024.
-Survivor Champion National Award from Parent Heart Watch. Jan. 2025.
-National Heart Hero Award from American Heart Association. 25’ – 26’
-Kids Helping Kids San Joaquin County Award. Nov. 2025.
-Justin Carr Foundation Hero Award 2026.
-Honors Society member/particpant for American Sign Language. 25’ – 26’
-Saving Hearts Foundation (UCLA Chapter) speaker and advocate.
-Fox News live interview for SCA, hands only CPR and AED.
-2025 Mayor’s Community Youth Support Network for grants participant.
-2025 UCSF Magazine article.
-2025 San Francisco Chronicle article.
-2025 Nominee for primary speaker for Life Saving Summit in Florida.
-Attending Cardiac Arrest Summit in Phoenix, Arizona. Nov. 2025.
-Attending Parent Heart Watch Conference in Florida. Jan. 2026.
-Featured speaker at JCWWP Event. March 2026.
-Youth Heart Screenings host/event coordinator: City of Tracy. Feb. 2026.
-Featured 1 of 2 girls in Saint Mary’s Highschool 150th Anniversary Traditions magazine.
-2025 Featured in SF Chronicle Magazine Dec..
-2025 U.S. House of Representatives Certificate of Congressional Recognition.
-2025 State of California Senate Certificate of Recognition.
-2025 California Legislature Assembly Certificate of Recognition.
-2025 Board of Supervisors Certificate of Recognition.
-2025 City of Stockton Certificate of Recognition.
-2026 Featured in 150th Anniversary of Saint Mary’s Highschool in Stockton, CA.
-2026 Featured model/portrait in Award winning International England Artist Charlie Kirkham.
-2026 Miss San Joaquin County Teen.
-2026 Accomplished artist and art sold to benefit the heart community.
-2026 – 2027 UCSF Foundation Youth Advisory Committee.
-2026 – 2027 Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation ambassador.
-2026 Harvard Summer School acceptance/attendee.
-2026 Certificate of Recognition from San Joaquin Supervisor Paul Canepa.
-2026 Certificate of Recognition from City of Tracy Mayor Dan Arriola.
-Advocate and national speaker for heart health and sudden cardiac arrest.
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