The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation is dedicated to bringing you the latest news and developments in sudden cardiac arrest prevention and treatment.
The Sacred Heart Room
Linda Dickson, Florissant, MO – 36 at time of event (2007) For Linda, it was a normal Thursday in March 2007, remarkable only for a nasty headache that lasted all day. It threatened to upset her Church board meeting that night, but not in the manner that it eventually did. Linda Dickson is a young, vibrant mother of… Read More
A Silent Secret
Barbara Copeland, Pasadena, MD – 37 at time of event (1998) Ten years ago, Barbara Copeland had a secret. It was so secret that not even she knew it. Her father may have, but he passed in the 1980s. Her first indication was an erratic heartbeat. The doctor told her she was suffering anxiety and to take some prescription pills. So she did, for… Read More
When "Regular Feels Weird"
Amanda Brown, Grand Canyon, AZ – 30 at time of event (2006) Amanda is used to living on the edge—the edge of a crater. Actually, it was the south lip of the Grand Canyon. This small community is separated from the big smoke by a helicopter trip in emergencies. A normal Sunday evening after Thanksgiving quickly turned into a lifetime of surprises… Read More
My New Best Friend-An ICD
Tammy Reather, Broken Arrow, OK – 37 at time of event (October 23, 2007) I am a healthy and young 37-year-old wife and Mom to six teens, and I am a nurse. On October 23, 2007, I was dropping off my girls at soccer practice when I experienced an SCA (sudden cardiac arrest). It was two weeks to the day since I lost my Dad. Two women came to my… Read More
Amen to AEDs!
Rose Marie Stallbaumer, Atchinson, KS – 60 at the time of event (August 18, 2007) My SCA happened on August 18, 2007, while I was attending the wedding of my nephew in Marysville, Kansas. I had been asked by the wedding couple to be the lector at their wedding liturgy. The wedding ceremony began as scheduled. When it was time, I went to the… Read More
A Personal Crusade
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… Read More
My Miracle Story
Keith White, Cincinnati, OH – 52 at the time of event (September 18, 2004) I was an active field hockey coach and I was attending a dinner dance to celebrate the 60th anniversary of our church, Immaculate Heart of Mary, when I suddenly collapsed in front of the band. My wife called for help and an off-duty firefighter, Assistant… Read More
Beating the Odds
James Gaken, Norwood, MA – 58 at the time of event (2005) The night I died, my wife and I were on our way to visit our daughter in New York City. This was November 10th, 2005. We had stopped at Foxwood’s Casino in Connecticut for dinner and a little entertainment before resuming our trip. As we were leaving the casino… Read More
Happy to Be Alive
Dawn Blake, Andover, MN – 33 at the time of event (2006) I had my sudden cardiac arrest on May 19th, 2006 at the age of 33. I was sleeping on the couch because I thought I was having muscle spasms in my back. My husband Mike, who is an EMT, woke up to an unidentified sound and found me unresponsive. He started CPR and called 9-1-1… Read More