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New Jersey Boy Knocked Out By Ball To The Chest Released From The Hospital


NORTHVALE, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- An 8-year-old New Jersey boy was out of the hospital Monday after a baseball hit him in the chest, stopping his heart over the weekend.

As CBS 2's Christine Sloan reported, Ian McGreevy, of Northvale, was trying to steal third base on Saturday during a Little League game in Harrington Park when the catcher fired the ball, striking him in the chest.

"When I was sliding to third, the ball hit me right at the heart and lungs," Ian told 1010 WINS' Steve Sandberg.

Ian collapsed and stopped breathing. He went into cardiac arrest, and almost died.

"I remember getting up and it going black," he said.

Maureen Renaghan, a mother from the opposing team, performed CPR and revived the boy before paramedics arrived.

"She's a hero," Ian said.

New Jersey Boy Recovering After Freak Baseball Accident

Ian's mother, Lisa McGreevy, was not at the game. But when she got the call about her son's condition, she sprinted across several fields to be with him.

"It was horrible. I get overwhelmed," she said. "You never imagine it could be your kid."

Ian's mother and his father, Ken McGreevy, said he is forever grateful to Renaghan.

"We'll meet up with her sometime," McGreevy said. "I thanked her at the field at the time I was there, but I want my wife and child to meet her."

Ian was released from the hospital Sunday night and is expected to make a full recovery.

His mother, Lisa McGreevy, is relieved to have her son back home.

"I've never kissed him so much," she said, adding that she now plans to lobby for all youth baseball players to wear chest protection, just like lacrosse players.

Lisa McGreevy said she can't wait to meet Renaghan.

"I will just hug her and kiss her," she said.

New Jersey Boy Recovering After Freak Baseball Accident

The third-grader will wear a heart monitor for the time being, but Ian was smiling and laughing while recuperating at home Monday morning, Sandberg reported.

"It's a one in a million shot and I mean you can't protect them from everything, but maybe they can develop something that will be just for kids," Ken McGreevy said.

Northvale does not require Little Leaguers to wear heart guards commonly used by pitchers. But now, a Councilman told Sloan the town may consider having kids use them.

"It was just a bruise to the heart and probably a once in a lifetime thing, and I am sure it won't happen again," Lisa McGreevy said. "I am getting heart guard for him just in case."

The only thing on Lisa McGreevy's mind now is how another mother gave her the greatest Mother's Day gift ever

"The only mother's day we'll remember, we'll always come back to this one," she said.

Meanwhile, Ian said he plans to play baseball again.

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