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For many, Mothers' Day is a wonderful day to celebrate our mothers and fond memories, and to enjoy and cherish our children and grandchildren.

For mothers who have lost children to sudden cardiac arrest, it can be a day of pain, sorrow and longing--not only because death came too soon, but because it took the promise of  future grandchildren with it.

If this description fits you, please know that we at the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation are thinking of you on what might be a very difficult day. May this expression of our sympathy bring you some comfort.

I’ve always been in peak physical condition, very healthy and extremely active….running, hiking, kayaking and biking.  But on August 17, 2008, I suffered sudden cardiac arrest while swimming in the Danskin Triathlon and disappeared underneath the water.  What saved my life was the quick action of volunteers at the event who saw me go under and started CPR and the quick response by emergency medical personnel at the scene. 

 This is my story. I am a paramedic who encountered one the most challenging calls of my career on May 27, 2007 at the age of 52, my own cardiac arrest. I was working out at the firehouse on shift on the treadmill when I started having an uncomfortable feeling in my chest. I slowed down and walked for awhile and then got off the treadmill and took a full aspirin. I walked out to the ambulance were some of the other paramedics were training. They put me on the monitor and ran a 12 lead EKG. This showed I was having a heart attack, a STEMI MI. En route to the hospital I arrested five times. On the last defibrillation I woke up with them bagging me. I had to ask them why? They then told me what had happen. I was taken to the cath lab and a stent put in my coronary artery.

I never thought something like this could happen to me.  I had just turned 51; I was working out twice a day for over 2 1/2 hours; 13% body fat; good diet; low blood pressure, cholestrol level great; all vital signs good!  Then it happened and I don't remember a single part of it.  On New Years Day - 2009, I had just completed my morning workout and was minutes away from walking out of the gym, which was getting ready to close for the holiday.  Following a morning of weight lifting and then an hour of Spin (cycling), I had jogged 1/2 mile and was just walking a couple of laps to cool down.  8 days later I awoke from a coma after having suffered and survived full cardiac arrest.

I had open heart surgery in May of 2009. It is now November and I am so frustrated over the lack of energy I have and the stiffness and soreness. When do things return to normal???

October has been filled with activities around the country to raise awareness and help save lives threatened by sudden cardiac arrest. Here are some things we've been up to:

Sept. 19, 2009 - 7 years of survival.  It's hard to believe 7 years have passed since my SCA.  I've had my ICD battery replaced once, and *knock on wood* it has only fired twice - both times within weeks of being implanted in 2002.  My EF has been 50% for the past 6 years -normal!  It had been down to 35% in the beginning, after a bout with pericarditis which led to my SCA.

Thank you all for sharing your stories of survival.  It's almost like sharing stories of children's births - not one is exactly like the other.  I continue to fight to get more AEDs in my workplace.  Currently, we only have one in our 9 story building.  NOT ENOUGH!  If I had my way, we'd have one on each floor.

Well, thanks for listening.  Take care and best wishes to all.

Chris

My personal connection to the cause

I have worked for many years in the field of emergency medical services. People often ask me why I am interested in sudden cardiac arrest. Do I have a personal experience that motivates me?

I  respond that I am simply interested because I recognize the huge potential for saving so many lives cut drastically short by this preventable and treatable condition. And, I have been blessed to know and work with many of the giants in the field.

In addition, I've developed a deep connection with people personally affected by sudden cardiac arrest. I have been blessed to know many survivors of sudden cardiac arrest—and many families who have lost someone dear to them because of this insidious stalker. Sooner or later, I have come to understand, sudden cardiac arrest touches every one of us.

     AED devices only work if people who are trained actually use them.  My husband suffered a heart attack while playing basketball at the YMCA in town.  They have an AED device and have people there trained in CPR, but no-one used the device to try to save him.  I have also learned that if they had it would have "significantly improved his chance of survival".