Saved on the Field: How Lee County's AED Plan Gave a Father a Second Chance

LEE COUNTY, FL – December 29, 2025 – One year ago, the crack of the bat and the cheer of the crowd at the Lee Health Sports Complex were shattered by a life-or-death emergency. Today, those same sounds are a symphony of celebration. Keenan Brown, 64, is back on the baseball diamond, playing in the same seniors' tournament where he suffered a sudden cardiac arrest in November 2024. This time, his wife, Janine, and their three young children are in the stands, their cheers a testament to a story of survival made possible by a prepared community, a calm bystander, and a piece of technology that bridged the gap between collapse and recovery.

Brown’s return to the field is more than a personal victory; it is the living proof of a deliberate, county-wide strategy to place lifesaving technology within arm’s reach. His survival story highlights the profound impact of Lee County’s investment in a new generation of connected Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) and its commitment to building a robust chain of survival for its residents and visitors.

A Routine Day, A Rapid Response

For Keenan Brown, the memory of that November day is a blank. "I remember nothing until waking up and seeing all these people standing around me," he recalled. "I saw an AED next to me and I saw Tony. I got a lot of heroes, but he's one of them up near the top. He's always in a prayer. And that AED, can't even begin to say that's what did it."

That day, as Brown collapsed on the field, Lee Health Sports Complex Security Supervisor Tony Nazarro’s training kicked in. Recognizing the signs of sudden cardiac arrest, Nazarro didn't hesitate. He located a nearby Avive Connect AED, mounted at a clearly marked public access point, and brought it to Brown’s side. The device guided him through the entire process, from pad placement to shock delivery.

For Nazarro, the simplicity of the device was critical in a moment of extreme stress. "Every single AED unit that I've ever picked up, I've had different systems. This has been the easiest one I've used so far," he said. "It just talked to you and you didn't even have to push a button. It tells you we're gonna shock him. Stand clear, you yell, stand clear. And it did the shock." The Avive unit delivered two crucial shocks to Brown's heart before Emergency Medical Services (EMS) even arrived, a rapid intervention that medical experts agree is the single most important factor in surviving sudden cardiac arrest.

The Technology Behind the Second Chance

Keenan Brown’s rescue was not a matter of luck. It was the result of a system designed to empower bystanders like Tony Nazarro. Lee County has embarked on an ambitious public safety initiative, deploying more than 250 Avive Connect AEDs across county buildings, parks, and high-traffic public locations like the sports complex. This effort goes far beyond simply placing devices on walls; it involves creating an intelligent, connected safety net.

Unlike traditional AEDs that can sit unmonitored for years, Avive’s technology provides Lee County's emergency services with a real-time dashboard of its entire fleet. "Implementing the use of Avive AEDs into our system was amazing because it allowed us to not only know where the AEDs are, but also to monitor them in real-time diagnostics," explained Casey Allo, Emergency Communications Manager for Lee County Public Safety. "We can see their battery levels, we can see if one was deployed, we can dispatch one to the scene, we can get all of that data. This truly makes that AED a powerful tool and exceptionally usable tool."

This connectivity means that when a 911 call comes in, dispatchers can see the nearest AED on a map, confirm its operational status, and guide a bystander to retrieve it. This integration of technology with emergency response is what county officials believe will fundamentally change survival rates.

"I've seen a lot of technology through the years... None of that matters if we can't get the shock to the victim in a timely manner," said Benjamin Abes, Director of Public Safety for Lee County. "I think that's where this type of technology will change how the cardiac-arrest story in the pre-hospital environment goes in the future."

A County-Wide Commitment to Preparedness

Lee County’s leadership views Keenan Brown's survival as a powerful validation of their proactive approach. By combining accessible AEDs, connected technology, and trained responders, the county is building a multi-layered defense against one of the nation's leading causes of death. This model turns a potential tragedy into a story of hope, a mission shared by the device's creators.

"Keenan's survival is exactly why Avive exists," said Sameer Jafri, CEO of Avive Solutions. "What saved Keenan's life was a prepared community, an empowered responder, and a connected AED that supported the entire chain of survival in what became an inspiring save. Lee County's commitment to making defibrillation accessible, visible, and integrated with their emergency response ecosystem is setting a new standard for public safety."

The program represents a shift in thinking about public health emergencies. Instead of relying solely on the arrival of an ambulance, Lee County is empowering its entire community to become the first line of response. The visibility and accessibility of the AEDs are designed to shorten the time from collapse to defibrillation, a window where every second counts.

The Future of Public Safety: Beyond the Ballpark

With the success of the program already yielding tangible results, Lee County is looking ahead. The next frontier is expanding AED access beyond public facilities and into residential neighborhoods. For a region with diverse geography and a population that enjoys an active, outdoor lifestyle, ensuring help is available at home or on a quiet trail is a critical next step.

This vision aligns with Avive Solutions' 4 Minute Community™ Program, a national initiative aiming to ensure that defibrillation is available within a four-minute walk, no matter where a cardiac arrest occurs. By shrinking the response time, communities can dramatically increase the odds of survival.

For the Brown family, these systemic efforts are deeply personal. The field where Keenan’s life nearly ended has been reclaimed as a place of joy and gratitude. His story serves as a powerful reminder that survival shouldn't be a lottery. It can be the expected outcome when a community decides that preparedness is a shared responsibility and invests in the tools and systems that empower ordinary people to do extraordinary things.