The Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation is dedicated to bringing you the latest news and developments in sudden cardiac arrest prevention and treatment.
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
Angels Around Me
Cecilia Showman, Vista, CA – 33 at the time of event (2007) On December 14, 2007, I went to a local Japanese restaurant with my daughter. Afterwards we were supposed to see the Alvin and the Chipmunks movie. From what I hear, I was either text messaging someone or e-mailing when my head went forward and then… Read More
The Luckiest Unlucky Day of My Life
Brett Daniel, Seattle, WA – 33 at the time of event (2007) On August 18th, 2007, while jogging with my wife and one-year-old son, I collapsed from sudden cardiac arrest. Like many survivors, I am only here to tell the story because it was the luckiest unlucky day of my 33 years of life. On a crystal-clear Seattle… Read More
iPods and Other Digital Media Players Safe for ICD Patients
April 4, 2008–WASHINGTON, D.C.–Digital media players are safe for use by patients with pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) according to new research published in the April issue of the Heart Rhythm Journal. Despite recent concerns raised about the potential for dangerous interactions between digital media players and… Read More
I Am Thankful to be Alive!
Kathleen Skenesky – Krum, TX – 58 at the time of the event (April 2, 2005) I am a nurse and was working that night. (I worked nights.) I was on my way to get ice for a patient, and the next thing I knew it was a week later. I was found by a co-worker, blue and with a big gash in my head (from falling). They called a “code” and from… Read More