Saturday, May 31, 2008

How to Save a Life

I watched my husband save a life last week. A good friend’s mom collapsed on the 18th hole of the golf course. We were at an adjacent pool with the kids. I didn’t know what was happening, but I called 911. When I got to my friend she was sure her mother had died. She wasn’t breathing and had no pulse. Damian was leaning over her and administering CPR.

A nurse jumped in to help give the compressions and he continued mouth to mouth. Someone brought out an automated external defibrillator. Damian used it as if it was something he did every day.

After what seemed like an eternity, he got a pulse back and the ambulance arrived soon after. She was medivaced to HUP and treated for cardiac issues. Alive and on her way to wellness, she is thrilled that she got to "kiss" Damian.

Not only did he have the skill to save a life, he didn’t wait to see if someone else would do it. To top it off, he treated our son's own dental emergency later that same evening.

He’s a good guy to have around in a crisis. I’ll never give him a hard time about missing dinner because of annual CPR re-certifications again. In fact, I’ll be joining him.

I’m proud of him, to say the least. I just hope he can save the rest of his own life - figuratively speaking. Declining insurance reimbursements and a demanding and often thankless job has had him down. I hope this situation breathes new life into his sense of purpose.