VOLUME 27, ISSUE 1
no pulse I began chest compressions. I was exhausted after two rounds of CPR despite being in physically good condition. I felt the adrenaline dump. Many unnamed heroes were around me and continued where I left off. To my surprise and relief the sirens of the EMS cavalry were audible within a few minutes and bright flashing lights arrived within eight minutes, a truly miraculous response time. As they approached, we shouted for the defibrillator and quickly shocked my father-in-law twice before the EMTs scooped and carted John into the ambulance continuing chest compressions.
When I saw John’s inanimate body vanish into the brightly illuminated metallic truck, he was dead… Wearied and drained, I stumbled into the pickup and began praying for grace and assistance to the EMTs and mercy for John. Then I called John’s daughter, my wife Julie, to break the news. An explosion of electronic communications began pouring from my phone asking my friends and family for prayer.
Just before the ambulance whisked away, an EMT approached my vehicle with the astonishing update. John was conscious and talking coherently. Amazing relief, tranquility, and a sense of thankfulness rushed over me. Upon arrival at the hospital, John was rapidly triaged to the heart catheterization lab where Dr. Gautam placed a life saving coronary stent to open a long and severe narrowing of his left anterior descending artery. After the procedure, John stayed in the hospital for a couple of days recovering with a sore chest and then was discharged home.
According to the American Heart Association and Resuscitation Outcomes Consortium, more than 420,000 cardiac arrests occur annually in the U.S. 1 Viewing a stressful sporting event more than doubles the risk of a myocardial infarction or cardiac arrhythmia. 2 Only 10.7% of Adult EMS-treated, nontraumatic Sudden Cardiac Arrest victims survive to hospital discharge. 1,3 For every minute without CPR and defibrillation, the victim’s chance of survival decreases by 7-10%. Of the patients that reach the hospital, only 11-48% will have a favorable neurological outcome. The remaining patients die or remain in a persistent vegetative state. 4 Retrospective data reviewing patients discharged alive, 5-year survival was better in those who received percutaneous intervention (78.7% versus 54.4% for those not treated). 5
John being “Papa” with granddaughter Eva and grandson Dane
When I consider the odds of my father–in-law’s resuscitation; the probability of being surrounded by bystander healthcare professionals, the rapid presence of EMT’s and defibrillation, and subsequent immediate treatment at the hospital that lead to his survival and discharge without neurologic or major organ side effects and John’s ability to return to work in less than two weeks. I can only be thankful for God’s divine orchestration placing the right people in the right place at the right time for this modern day Lazarus resurrection miracle.
I’m thankful to have been one of God’s instruments in John’s life that day. However, the Heroes named and unnamed also receive John’s family and friends’ eternal gratitude for their kindness, professionalism, and expertise in saving their Papa John.
