Michael Larsen, Seattle, WA – 45 at time of event (2005)

Michael is a pianist. He was once a large pianist — now he’s more careful, and slimmer! In 1999 he suffered a severe heart attack and needed a quadruple bypass. Unfortunately, his heart muscle was damaged and his EF remains very low. At that time ICDs were not implanted as a safety measure like they are now for LVEF <%35. So that brings us to his story.

Working in Seattle on a stage production, Michael had just finished a tiring day and was walking down Pike Place past the market that is a Seattle institution. He was on the cell phone checking in with his producer, apparently telling her that he felt fine, “never felt better before” were his words. Not that Michael can remember the conversation...

Stephen Woodcock, Kokomo, IN – 62 at time of event (2009)

After their normal Saturday breakfast out, Steve decided to get a quick bike ride in before they sat down to watch the Kentucky Derby. Diane was preparing for the race when the door bell rang. She was expecting Steve back, but it was the Sheriff’s deputy at the door, with bad news. Steve had had an accident and was at the hospital. Diane wasn’t overly worried since he’d had many scrapes before. Just one of the downsides to regularly riding a push bike 100 miles on highways.

 Hi! My name is Shannon Griggs, and I am a wife and mother-of-two living in the small town of Arab, Alabama. 

On March 5, 2009, I was at home from work getting ready for my grandfather's funeral. Of course, I don't remember any of this or much of the month prior to this, so I rely on the recollections of my closest family and friends. Because of the occasion, my husband and daughters were also at home with me at the time which was uncharacteristic for a typical work/school day. I would have otherwise been at the middle school in our city school system where I work as the library media specialist.

Danielle Burkett, Warner Robins, GA – 18 at time of event (2008)

She played 2nd base for the Georgia Elite Gold fastpitch softball team, and had been playing for ten years. She is no longer. It wasn’t her fault. She didn’t know, no one did. Danielle went to Irvine, California for a tournament in the summer of ‘08. But, she didn’t come back with the team. Instead she visited the hospital for a week.
The reason? She found out that she has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy*.
How? By collapsing on the field just prior to their second game of the day.
She very nearly died then and there. But she was saved; quick action by a bystander made it possible. There was also an AED, but it was defective.

Roger Watson Jr., Pinehurst, NC – 62 at time of event (2006)

Three times in combat and once in civilian life; it was that last one that nearly got him. Roger was a Lt. Colonel in the Special Forces, so he was used to dangerous situations. But he’d retired years ago, so it was a surprise to everyone that the most dangerous situation he’d ever encountered was in a fitness center. Enter the three angels.

Vince Graziano, Patchogue, NY – 40 at time of event (2009)

If you swim for nearly an hour a day, ride a bike 100 miles without a thought, and generally keep yourself in shape, you’d expect to be heart healthy, right? Well, not so. Not according to Vince. He’d just started work after his morning swim at the YMCA in downtown Manhattan. The usual Friday morning meeting had begun. Not a stressful event, just the regular, routine end to the freight scheduler’s work week. Except this was not going to be an ordinary end-of-week for Vince. He wouldn’t make the train back home that evening. In fact he wouldn’t make it to work on Monday morning either. And as for the early morning swim, he hasn’t done that for a few months now.

Mark Vollmar, Muncie, IN – 41 at time of event (1998)

Mark Vollmar, an off duty policeman,  was on his way to the store to buy a birthday present for his eldest son, Nicholas. His younger son, Christopher, came along for the ride, but he didn’t enjoy the trip at all. They were cruising down the busy street when Mark collapsed at the wheel, his foot stuck on the gas pedal. Christopher was pinned down, but Nicholas quickly turned the ignition off and the car coasted onto the front lawn of a nearby church.

Witnesses grabbed their cell phones to call 9-1-1m and a motorist flagged down a police cruiser. Two off duty nurses came over and began CPR.

Linda Kuhn, Millport, AL – 50 at time of event (1996)

It was hot. June in Alabama tends to be that way. Linda was finalizing her purchases at a yard sale when the heat became too much for her. She was under some stress as well, having just moved from being assistant director of nursing to working with a nursing home, and dealing with a failing marriage. She felt that everything was in turmoil.
“I paid for my stuff and fell back stone dead,” Linda said without emotion. Her second daughter, Melissa, is also a nurse and was there to see it happen. Apparently, Linda had complained of feeling tired, and kept stretching her arm out as though it was stiff or cramping up. Melissa recommended a visit to the hospital to check out her heart. But first Linda needed to pay for her items.
“Well, I never got out, I fell back dead!” Linda said with a laugh. “The girl who was taking my money, she’s a good friend of mine, said ‘I turned around and didn’t know where you were.’ She couldn’t see me on the floor!” Melissa started CPR immediately.

Alexander Martin, Owings Mills, MD – 60 at time of event (2006)

Sandy is a die hard squash player, fit and powerful and of average height. He likes the doubles game best, and is quite competitive. In fact they have an annual championship between his family and the Corrigans, the in-laws, from the Metropolitan club in Washington DC, that’s running on 15 years now.

Nancy Pyrro, Littleton, MA – 49 at time of event (2002)

Nancy was packing boxes at 5:30am. She had sold her condo and needed to get out, but she also had to go to work! It was therefore a stressful period in her life. More stress than she bargained for, and certainly more stress than Wayne, now her husband, anticipated. Nancy complained about a back ache, and also that her chest was painful. She went downstairs and stood outside near his truck. Realizing that Nancy’s complaint was serious Wayne helped her into the truck and they set off for the hospital.
“We were going down the highway and I said, ‘I think I’m going to pass out’ and that was it, I dropped dead.” Nancy said in a calm voice.