I Thought I Was Talking to An Adult: Brendan Was So Calm
2017 Nominee – Brendan Gould Survivor – Thomas Gould, Barrington, IL, 56 at time of event (February 6, 2016) Location of Event – Home I was having a conversation with my son Brendan, on February 6, 2016, at 5:30 pm. In mid-sentence, and with no warning signs, I collapsed onto the floor of my son’s bedroom. Brendan, then 16 years of age, recognized immediately that my gurgling noises, a lack of… Read More
A Call No Mother Ever Wants to Receive
2017 Nominees – Chris Featherstone and Erika Bean Survivor – Hannah Bean, Decaur, IL, 16 at time of event (July 11, 2016) Location of Event – Home I am writing to nominate my husband and daughter for the People Saving People Award. On July 11th, 2016, I got a call that no mother ever wants to receive. My husband, Chris, called to tell me that my daughter Hannah had collapsed and was being rushed… Read More
Thanks to My Guardian Angels, There is No Need to Ask Where the Wake is Being Held
2017 Nominees – Sebastian Koziel and Randy McGregor Survivor – Tom Lane, Lemont, IL, 53 at time of event (December 5, 2015) Location of Event – Gym The following is an e-mail message Tom sent to his co-workers. Happy Friday! It's Great to Be Alive! On Saturday, December 5th, 2015, I went to the Lemont park district gym to work out like I do almost every day. I spent a half hour on an elliptical… Read More
Almost Like Winning the Powerball Lottery
2017 Nominees – Christopher Cooley, MD and Matthew Cooley, MD Survivor – David Wujczyk, Farmington Hills, MI, 61 at time of event (August 3, 2017) Location of Event – Golf course My name is David Wujczyk. On Thursday, August 3rd at 12:20pm, I stepped on the first tee at Plum Hollow Country Club to play in the opening round of the 2017 Club Invitational golf tournament. This was to be my 25th year… Read More
My Husband Saved My Life and I’ll Be Forever Grateful
2017 Nominee – Justin Toussing Survivor – Kristin Toussing, Indianapolis, IN, 29 at time of event (September 13, 2017) Location of Event – Home Wednesday, September 13, 2017. It is likely a day I’ll never remember, and with certainty a day that my husband will never forget. It was a day that started just as any other. I had awoken at 6:15 am, as I always do, packed three lunches, ensured our… Read More
Because of Her CPR Training and Confidence, I Survived Sudden Cardiac Arrest
2017 Nominee – Sharon Lopata Survivor – Charly Miklaski, Frisco, TX, 38 at time of event (December 3, 2016) Location of Event – Marathon in Memphis, TN On Saturday, December 3, 2016, I was in Memphis, TN, to run my third consecutive (and fourth overall) marathon at the St. Jude Memphis Marathon. Every year since 2007, when my four-year-old niece, Sophie Quayle, passed away from a Diffuse… Read More
I Credit My Wife for Knowing CPR, Staying Calm, and Following Dispatcher Instructions
2017 Nominee – Jaina Thompson Survivor – Brian Thompson, Scottsdale, AZ, 49 at time of event (December 2 , 1014) Location of Event – Neighborhood My name is Brian Thompson. I am from Scottsdale, Arizona, and the father of three kids. I would like to nominate my wife Jaina for the People Saving People Award. I have always been very active. I work out and eat healthy. I have never had any known… Read More
She Was Dead in the Street, But Now is Alive Because He Gave Her CPR
2017 Nominee – Ray Davidson Survivor – Kelly Plummer, Colorado Springs, CO, 45 at time of event (June 5, 2017) Location of Event – Neighborhood in Clarksville, TN Monday, June 5th, 2017, is the day that changed my life forever. Because of Ray Davidson, I will for the rest of my life, be known as a survivor of sudden cardiac arrest. It started like any other normal day. I had just finished… Read More
I Am a Deeply Proud and Forever Grateful Mom
2017 Nominees – Ryan and Taylor Kelley Survivor – Heather Kelley, Bellevue, WA, 48 at time of event (February 5, 2015) Location of Event – Public setting On February 5, 2015, Seattle threw the biggest party in our city’s history. Over 700,000 people braved sub-freezing temperatures and filled the streets to cheer on our first time Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks. Much to their surprise and… Read More