A UH student died Monday at the Texas Medical Center Methodist Hospital of unknown causes after staff could not resuscitate her.
Education senior Heather Blackwell’s heart stopped unexpectedly early Friday morning at about 1:45 a.m., at which point her husband Neil Blackwell called paramedics.
Although revived by paramedics at the scene, Neil Blackwell said his wife had lost oxygen for an unknown period of time and was declared brain dead at Methodist Hospital.
"I don’t know what happened," he said.
A 1990 graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York, Heather Blackwell, 38, was looking to change her major to history, Neil Blackwell and Susanna Kitchens, a close friend, said.
"She really loved the history department (at UH)," Neil Blackwell said.
A full-time student, Heather Blackwell was also a devoted mother to her 4-year-old son, Seth, Neil Blackwell said.
Blackwell was an aspiring children’s book author, Kitchens said.
The cause of death is undetermined pending an autopsy report from the Harris County Medical Examiner’s office.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. today at St. Luke’s Methodist Church.
The family requests that contributions be sent to a fund in her honor at the West University Methodist Church Children’s Library at 3611 University Blvd., Houston, TX 77005.
For more information on how to donate to the Heather Blackwell fund, call the West University Methodist School at (713) 664-8111.
