2015 Nominees – Lori Mullen and Robert Mullen III
Survivor – Robert Mullen, Cincinnati, OH, 53 at time of event (June 27, 2013)
Location of event – Home
On June 27, 2013, I suffered sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and died. For those who do not know, sudden cardiac arrest is not a heart attack. A heart attack is caused by a blockage, whereas sudden cardiac arrest occurs when the electrical system in your body quits working. SCA is also called sudden death, because that is what happens. June 27 – June 30 are a blur in my life, I remember nothing from those days other than what my loved ones tell me. For me, I am still here by the grace of God. It is a miracle that I am.
There are so many people in my life that I will never be able to thank enough. My wife Lori who did not panic after I fell on her, was able to get out from underneath me, realized something wasn’t right, called emergency services, went downstairs to get my son who is CPR certified, and fought for me at the hospital. She is my rock.
I have so many people to thank...My son Bob who saved my life by starting compressions and was my heart beat until the EMTs arrived. He is a hero in my eyes...I also need to acknowledge my daughter Erin who was there every day making sure I would laugh with her incredible sense of humor.
In addition, I need to acknowledge my cousin Tina, who flagged down the ambulance and was there for support whenever it was needed...My two wonderful sisters Penny and Pam--I always say I have the best two sisters a man can ask for and all this did was prove it; they were and still are there for me...My Aunt Kay who came every day to give support...All the people who prayed for me, including Aunt Audrey and all her mates at the apartment complex...the Green Township EMTs who even after shocking me with an AED and getting nothing, did compressions to keep my heart pumping blood all the way to the hospital... The doctors and nurses at Good Samaritan Hospital who, after getting an irregular heartbeat and giving me a five percent chance of survival, and talking with Lori, decided to perform hypothermia treatment on me...The cardiologists from Tri-Health Heart who operated on me and placed a defibrillator in me.
Nominated by Robert Mullen