Detroit, MI
How a Detroit Lions fan’s life was saved and then lost — and the real message behind it
Jeremy Schmidt was given a gift on Sunday: four or five extra hours with his father, Wally Schmidt — a big-hearted man who loved to fish and work on cars and go to car shows and was “my rock, my last pillar.”
Wally, 65, collapsed on the field in Soldier Field on Sunday morning before the Detroit Lions played the Chicago Bears.
“I saw his eyes roll back,” Jeremy said, “and immediately, I’m yelling for help.”
Ben Roth, an off-duty paramedic from Texas, rushed to help, assessing the symptoms.
“That man gave me four or five more hours with my dad, which is invaluable,” Jeremy said. “That guy was amazing for what he did with no hesitation.”
As state troopers came to help and Bears personnel got an AED (automated external defibrillator) machine, CPR was started and Roth pushed the AED button, giving Wally a shock and bringing him back to life.
“His heart stopped on the field,” Jeremy said. “It took one zap to bring him back.”
Wally, who is from Midlothian, Illinois, was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago.
“In the ambulance, he was responsive, and I could hear the paramedics talking with him,” said Jeremy, who sat up front.
Wally was answering questions in the emergency room.
“I would say his energy was a little drained, but he was still himself, and he was still very coherent, very responsive to what happened, knew where what was going on,” Jeremy said.
Wally even started cracking jokes.
“He was joking about the fact that he was rooting for the Lions over the Bears,” Jeremy said.
Yes, Wally was a Bears fan, who got so frustrated with the losing, so frustrated with this franchise, that he joined the Lions bandwagon.
“It’s hard to watch the Bears if you’re a Bears fan,” Jeremy said. “And I’m a Lions fan, so maybe I had some influence on that. I feel like a lot of Bears fans sympathize with Lions fans. If it’s not going to be them, they root for the Lions, because they all hate the Packers.”
Getting extra time
Jeremy called his stepmother, Beth Schmidt: “She was able to get to the hospital to spend those last hours with him in the room,” Jeremy said.
Jeremy said that his father seemed stable in the ER.
“Everything was okay for the time being,” Jeremy said. “He got his CAT scan, and when he came back from that, he was starting to feel weak, and he was nauseous throughout the whole thing.”
More tests were ordered.
“They were trying to figure out, is there some sort of blockage?” Jeremy said. “Do we need to do a stent? Or, you know, is this serious to the point where we’re going to have to do open heart surgery?”
While in the ER, Wally took a turn.
“He was starting to feel weaker and not feel great,” Jeremy said. “And that’s when things started to go south. You can see the monitor, and it starts beeping a little crazy and turns red — you know, it’s not okay. And then I could see it in his face, his eyes went back, and he kind of tilted his head.”
Doctors and nurses rushed into his room: “The amount of care he got was insane. I would say upwards of 30-plus people were in the emergency room, in his room, working to get him stable at that point, which they were able to do through a breathing tube. They probably zapped him another eight to 10 times down there in the emergency room.”
He was taken for another procedure, but he died during it.
“They notified us that he unfortunately did not make it through the procedure,” Jeremy said. “And they informed us that the left side of his heart had pretty much 100% blockage, which is the side they call a widow-maker. The right side was close to 100%, so no matter how much CPR or anything they did, they just were not able to save him.”
He paused.
“I went from watching the Bears on the field at 11 o’clock with my dad to him passing at 5:30 that day,” Jeremy said. “His heart was in that bad of shape, like it was an incident waiting to happen.”
Two Lions fans linked together
On Monday, Jeremy was still in shock, still trying to process everything. He had to help set up a funeral and make arraingments.
But he did something else.
He called Roth to thank him for what he did on that field.
“I just wanted to express my gratitude,” he said.
Here were two Lions fans, who were brought together in the strangest of ways.
Neither had ever been on an NFL field before. Roth was invited by somebody in the stands who had two extra tickets, and Jeremy had a friend with some extra field passes.
And now, they were united in a dramatic, painful moment.
“I just wanted to comfort him,” Roth said.
And Roth can sense a higher power at work.
“We were supposed to meet,” Roth said. “It’s truly above me. It’s a spiritual thing. It’s a religious thing. It’s whatever deity you want to say, or whatever way you want to say, that things happen.”
Roth, who was incredibly disappointed and dejected, plans to stay in the Chicago area and go to the funeral.
“For closure,” he said.
You can view this story two ways.
You can view it as a tragic ending; certainly, it was, and I feel horrible for the family.
But you can also view it another way: It’s a miracle this family got those extra four or five hours.
The real lesson of this story
Jeremy remembers one last heartfelt moment with his father.
On the way to the game, Jeremy was just so dang happy his father went.
“When I invited him to the game, I didn’t think he was going to go,” Jeremy said. “He’s not big on cold-weather games.”
In the car, Jeremy shared something with his father.
“I told him, ‘I’m very happy you are here, because I don’t know when I’ll be able to do this with you again,’” Jeremy remembers saying, thinking about how he got the tickets. “He was ecstatic. He couldn’t have been happier to be going to that game that day.”
Jeremy paused.
“It’s the little things that you say,” he said, “and you don’t realize how they have that much meaning.”
That is the part that I can’t stop thinking about.
Both of my parents have died in the past few years, and I find myself thinking about them at strange times. When one of my kids has some big news, I think: I should call my parents to tell them. Then, it stuns me to realize they are gone.
I used to call my parents during long drives to watch my son play college football. And now, when I’m on a long drive, like I made to Chicago on Saturday, I had a strong, overwhelming desire to call my parents while driving.
Like I used to do.
And it’s a shock to realize, once again, they are gone.
I find myself thinking: I just wish I had a few more minutes.
Just a sliver of time to talk to them one last time.
That’s the big lesson here — the thing we can ask ourselves: What would you do if you were given a few extra minutes? Or a few more hours?
Would you make amends? Would you ask somebody for forgiveness? Is there something you haven’t said? Would you express your love? Would you cherish every moment?
That’s the lesson here: If there is something you would do, don’t wait.
As we finish out this holiday season, as we approach a new year, I’m gonna try to use this time more carefully.
My youngest son is in town for the holidays — I have to cherish this time with him.
I have a group of friends coming for New Year’s — we have been getting together on New Year’s Eve since college. But I don’t want to take this year for granted.
My granddaughter — who happens to be the cutest dang thing in the world — is simply growing up too fast, and I’m trying like crazy to be present every single second.
If I have one wish for this holiday season — one promise, one vow — it’s to slow down and appreciate more.
To use every stinking minute.
Because you never know when you have only a few hours.
Or even four or five extra ones.
Contact Jeff Seidel: jseidel@freepress.com. Follow him on X @seideljeff. To read his recent columns, go to freep.com/sports/jeff-seidel.
4Warn Weather – The dangerous heat that gripped Metro Detroit Wednesday will ease, but having slightly lower temperatures does not mean that Southeast Michigan is in the clear.
The 4Warn Weather Alert remains in effect Thursday, as a thick plume of wildfire smoke from Canada settles into the region, bringing some of the poorest air quality this season.
While the Heat Advisory was allowed to expire Wednesday evening, the Air Quality Alert continues through Thursday, and for many communities, the smoke will pose the greatest health concern.
Unlike some air quality events driven by ozone or lighter smoke high in the atmosphere, this smoke is expected to settle close to the ground.
The result is unhealthy air pollution for the general population, with some neighborhoods potentially reaching very unhealthy and hazardous levels for a time, especially late Wednesday night through Thursday morning.
A few storms beating the odds Wednesday night
Although most of Southeast Michigan will stay dry Wednesday night, a few isolated thunderstorms developed Wednesday evening along the advancing cold front. Just enough instability developed for a handful of storms to briefly become severe.
The National Weather Service issued Severe Thunderstorm Warnings for portions of Oakland, Genesee and Shiawassee counties, with radar indicating the potential for wind gusts up to 60 mph and hail up to quarter-size.
Quarter-sized hail was reported in Holly at 7:19 p.m.
The Storm Prediction Center noted the overall severe weather threat remained isolated.
Overnight, attention turns back to the arrival of dense Canadian wildfire smoke, which is expected to become the dominant weather story through Thursday.
Smoke thickens late Wednesday night
The cold front opened the door for dense Canadian wildfire smoke to pour into Southeast Michigan on Wednesday.
The thickest smoke is expected overnight into Thursday morning, when cooler temperatures and a stable atmosphere trap the smoke close to the surface.
Visibility may be reduced at times; skies will appear hazy, and many people may notice the smell of smoke even indoors.
Those with asthma, COPD, heart disease, children, older adults, and pregnant women should avoid prolonged outdoor activity.
However, even healthy adults may experience irritated eyes and throats, coughing, headaches, or shortness of breath during periods of heavier smoke.
If possible:
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Limit strenuous outdoor activity.
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Keep windows closed.
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Run your air conditioning on recirculate if available.
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Change air filters.
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Consider wearing a properly fitted N95 mask if you must spend extended time outdoors in smoky conditions.
Still hot Thursday
Even though the oppressive humidity backs off behind the front, Thursday will not feel cool.
Afternoon highs climb back into the lower 90s, with “feels like” temperatures generally remaining in the lower 90s as well.
That is noticeably more tolerable than Wednesday’s triple-digit heat indices, but it is still hot enough to require frequent hydration and breaks if you are spending time outside.
The combination of heat and smoky air may make outdoor conditions especially taxing, even if temperatures are not as high.
Rain chances return
Thursday stays dry before moisture begins returning on Friday.
Scattered showers and thunderstorms become possible Friday afternoon and continue at times into Saturday as the next weather system approaches the Great Lakes.
Not everyone will see rain, but several opportunities for showers and thunderstorms develop through the weekend.
By Sunday and early next week, temperatures settle closer to normal with highs generally in the lower to mid-80s, along with periodic chances for additional showers and thunderstorms into Tuesday.
While the cooler weather will be welcome, air quality should also gradually improve as the weather pattern becomes more active and winds help disperse lingering smoke.
The wildfire smoke will lead to more vibrant and redder sunsets and sunrises. Share your weather and nature photos with Local 4 at MIPics.
Copyright 2026 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit – All rights reserved.
The Detroit Red Wings announced on Wednesday that Steve Yzerman is stepping down from his role as GM and executive vice president.
Yzerman will continue working with the organization as a senior advisor to Red Wings governor and CEO Chris Ilitch.
The Red Wings are now searching for a new head of hockey operations.
“Steve’s lifetime of contributions to the Red Wings has meant more to this franchise than words can truly express, and I have the highest level of respect for his continued commitment to our organization,” Ilitch said in a statement. “We are thankful for Steve’s hard work and dedication as General Manager and are grateful knowing Steve will remain where he belongs – here with the Red Wings family.”
Yzerman returned to Detroit in April 2019 after a successful front office career with the Tampa Bay Lightning, replacing longtime GM Ken Holland.
“I am sincerely grateful to Chris and the entire Ilitch family,” Yzerman said in a statement. “This organization has given me incredible opportunities, from my time as a player to the privilege of returning as General Manager. I’ve appreciated every experience throughout the years, and I’m extremely proud to remain part of this great franchise.”
As the Red Wings commence their search for Yzerman’s replacement, Yzerman will remain in his current role to facilitate the day-to-day of hockey operations until a replacement is named. The organization says it will consider both internal and external candidates for the role.
“Clearly, we are not where we and our fans expect to be as an organization,” Ilitch said. “I’m looking forward to bringing in new leadership to build the championship-caliber organization Hockeytown deserves.”
“My commitment to the Red Wings and this community will never waver, and I look forward to supporting the organization in whatever role is needed to achieve our collective goals,” Yzerman said. “I want to thank our passionate fanbase for their support, as they are what makes Detroit and the entire state of Michigan a very special place in the hockey world.”
This is a developing story and will be updated.
DETROIT ― The crowd wasn’t large ― a smattering of about 40 or so people at Detroit’s historic Palmer Park just north of downtown on a warm and muggy summer evening.
The people who did show up were there because they feared something precious could be lost: the relationships between therapists and the people who trust them with their deepest wounds.
This is what democracy often looks like. A tent. Some speakers. Livestreaming on social media. And waning sunlight seemingly trying to figure out whether to set in fiery red-orange or fade behind rainclouds.
It was my pleasure to witness this moment firsthand because we live in a new era ― a period when the most powerful leaders in our government increasingly move to trample on our First Amendment rights. This was the second time within the past 30 days that I have found myself covering the debate surrounding Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan’s planned reimbursement policy changes affecting limited licensed mental health clinicians.
I’ve written previously about the policy itself. This time, though, something else captured my attention.
It was the people.
Last Friday night’s rally was organized by Caitlin Fleming, a mental health therapist and co-founder of Healer’s Choice, who demonstrated the kind of leadership that rarely makes headlines but often changes communities. She listened as much as she spoke. She created space for others to tell their stories. She reminded those gathered that advocacy is less about anger and more about refusing to become invisible.
At one point, Fleming shared that she lost her former husband to suicide.
Her words carried weight, especially because only days earlier I had written about losing my aunt Geraldine and how grief leaves permanent marks on those left behind. Mental illness, suicide and trauma are not abstract policy debates. Nearly every family carries a story. Every interruption in care has a human face.
That reality echoed through the entire evening.
Mars DeWitt, a limited licensed clinician who previously worked as a teacher, reminded us that change has happened before in Detroit. After addressing the audience, DeWitt told me that they watched the fight for teacher pay, recalling Detroit educators’ successful efforts to improve salaries. “So, I know it’s possible for therapists to fight back in a similar way.… Detroit is one of those inspiring cities in the world because we know how to fight back.”
Their words were less criticism than a declaration of home.
Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, connected the issue to another community she knows well: veterans.
“Every interruption in treatment increases the risk that a patient, including veterans, falls through the cracks,” she said. “Our veterans should not have to retell their trauma, rebuild our trust or start the therapeutic process from the beginning due to an insurance billing policy.”
Jess Riley of the National Association of Social Workers-Michigan added sobering context. Twenty-five Michigan counties have no psychiatrists. Ten neither have a psychiatrist or psychologist. The Upper Peninsula has no child psychiatrists and no pediatric psychiatric beds.
Whatever one’s position on reimbursement policy, those numbers reveal a behavioral work force already stretched dangerously thin.
Fleming also reminded the audience that communities of color are especially vulnerable to changes in insurance coverage policy because they understand what generational trauma in health care looks like. She cited historical abuses such as the Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis. She emphasized that clinical supervision should not be a sign that therapists are somehow viewed as inadequate.
“We want people to be supervised not because they are not quality therapists; it’s the human experience. We should always be working in teams.
Notably, Fleming said Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan has not publicly released data estimating how many patients may lose access to their current therapists under the proposed policy. She said representatives from BCBS Michigan were invited to the forum but did not participate.
Regardless of where this debate ultimately ends, something encouraging happened last Friday evening.
Citizens assembled peacefully. They exercised their First Amendment rights. They shared data, personal stories and deeply held convictions. They urged elected officials to listen. They asked a powerful institution to explain itself.
That is not something to fear.
It is something to celebrate.
That’s because healthy democracies depend on citizens who care enough to show up – even if there are only 40 of them standing together in a Detroit park at the end of a long week, refusing to believe their voices don’t matter.
Byron McCauley is a regional columnist for USA Today Co. in Michigan. Email: bmccauley@usatodayco.com; call (513) 504-8915.
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