Isaiah's Story
Isaiah Turner was a 17-year-old rising high school senior at La Salle College High School, where he was a star athlete who contributed to both the basketball and football teams. As described by his coaches, teachers and friends, Isaiah was a "gentle giant" who was a selfless and well-liked member of the school community. He excelled in courses on information sciences, public speaking and Chinese. Isaiah was curious and funny, and was interested in cultural exploration. He looked forward to following his parents’ example by continuing his education. Several universities with Division I football programs were actively recruiting Isaiah, with some expressing interest in awarding him a scholarship.
Unfortunately, Isaiah did not live to realize his dreams of going to college or playing college football. Like many African Americans, he was a carrier of the Sickle Cell Trait (SCT), and Isaiah's mother dutifully filled out health history forms for his school's athletic department for three consecutive years, fully advising as to Isaiah's SCT status. Yet, Isaiah died on September 4, 2020, alone, on his high school football field shortly after experiencing the warning signs of an exertional sickle cell crisis during a preseason practice. His life of extraordinary promise was cut short because his school’s athletic and medical staff were uninformed of the risk that SCT can pose to student athletes if proper precautions are not taken, and staff failed to recognize that Isaiah’s symptoms required an emergency response.
On the day of Isaiah's death, the football team was practicing in hot and somewhat humid weather conditions. After more than two hours and during the waning minutes of a conditioning session, Isaiah collapsed near midfield. He was experiencing leg cramping, and his offensive line coach worked on stretching him out. He was helped to the sideline, where the entire team congregated for the end of the practice. Isaiah laid down because he was unable to stand. There was no medical or training staff present, and Isaiah was given two bottles of Gatorade. He complained of leg pain so severe that he was losing feeling in his toes. Not recognizing the hallmark signs of an exertional sickling medical emergency, the 12-person adult coaching staff ended the practice and left Isaiah in the care of his 17-year-old friend and teammate to drive Isaiah home.
Isaiah could not make the walk to the locker room, so his teammate left the field to drive his car closer. After parking closer, he returned to Isaiah, who indicated that he would not be able to make the shorter walk and asked him to move the car even closer. Isaiah’s teammate left to move the car again, and when he returned he found Isaiah lying on his back unconscious. He called 9-1-1 and began performing CPR while on the phone with the emergency call center. Isaiah was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Tragically, Isaiah is but one in a long line of athletes with the Sickle Cell Trait — particularly football players — who have died unnecessarily from exertional sickling.
Feldman Shepherd attorney Mark W. Tanner represented Isaiah’s family in a lawsuit against La Salle College High School, which settled in November 2023 for $12 million. Feldman Shepherd subsequently launched the "Raising Awareness for Isaiah" campaign to honor Isaiah's memory, raise awareness and combat unnecessary deaths by providing life-saving information on the Sickle Cell Trait to high school athletic directors.