My name is Matthew O’Donnell I am a Firefighter and Paramedic in the city of Warwick, RI.  I am also an Account Executive for Emergency Medical Group (EMG) a company that specializes in Public Access Defibrillation programs.

One of my best friends called a few weeks ago and asked, “So how is Tim Russert’s case affecting you and the foundation’s efforts to raise awareness about saving lives?”

I told her that despite the very tragic news of his sudden death, the good news is that people are talking about heart attacks and other causes of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). We spoke about how much media coverage there has been on the topic. 

Then she said something that caught me completely off-guard. “So, do you want to know how it is affecting me?” "Sure," I said, wondering where this was going.

I was at work one night when a coworker came to my cubicle.  He then ran into the computer room, and told them I "looked funny."  I imagine I did: I had no heart beat, and wasn't breathing. I was very lucky that my fellow workers were able to start CPR and call 911 right away. I was brought back to life four times that night.  I spent 14 days in the hospital, another 7 in a nursing home.  It wasn't a nursing home for people expected to recover, as nearly as I can tell, but the home of many medicaid patients.  I was told I was unusual because I was so young (52), there for my heart, and didn't have family issues or homelessness to cope with.  The physical therapy was laughable.

Thanks everyone for having the Sean O'Hara golf tournament in memory of Sean's birthday.  He is a very special young man who is very missed.

The following letter from the SCA Foundation was published in The New York Times, Tuesday, July 1, 2008.

To the Editor: