Kristin Hamelin, Edmond, OK – 37 at the time of event (2007)

On the evening of March 21, 2007, I was feeling extremely exhausted. As a 37-year-old mother of a three-year-old and a nine-month old, I was frequently tired so I didn't think much of it. I went to bed that night and don’t remember anything until five days later­—and even these memories are fuzzy at best. I actually suffered SCA (sudden cardiac arrest) in my sleep.

My husband—who was supposed to be working that night and at the last minute changed his work schedule—heard a strange gasping sound, came into our bedroom, and found me in our bed unresponsive and turning blue. He immediately called 9-1-1 and began CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). The emergency responders arrived and used drugs and the AED (automated external defibrillator) to get my heart beating again. I received four shocks before my heart started beating.