It always happens to the other guy, right? You know, the dude who collapses at the end of a race and never makes it home. Well... on March 13th, 2021, I was the other guy, only I was able to go home after an extended stay at our local hospital.

On that day, I was supposed to run a half marathon. My knee had been unfriendly for a few weeks, so at the last minute I backed down to the 5K.  My wife, Delia and I decided to just have fun and run it together.  Near the end she wasn't feeling it and I was, so she said just go. Fly to the finish.  I cranked it, flew around the corner, tapped a kid on the shoulder and gave him a few words of encouragement, and then... down.

Delia was the first person there. She heard "runner down!" and thought my knee had collapsed. As soon as she saw me, her professional training took over and she began CPR. She cracked four of my ribs and I love her for that! Another woman helped, and the EMT's were right there. They jolted my heart back to life and a sustainable rhythm. I was dead for five minutes.

My cardiac team worked their wonders. Mine was not plumbing, although I now have a stent due to minor blockage. Mine may never have an answer, but something threw my heartbeat off and then flipped a switch. 

That was five years ago. Since then, we have helped train bystander CPR and AED use throughout our community and Eastern North Carolina. I returned to cycling and swimming right away, my knees said “no” to running and have since been replaced. Delia and I continue to hike, walk, camp, and try to stay as active as possible. In the end, the hero of our story is not me. Delia is the true hero. Without her, I would not be here.

In a heartbeat, you could be the difference.

9 out of 10 people who suffer cardiac arrest outside the hospital don’t survive. Most of the time, it’s because no one nearby performed CPR. But together, we can change that.

Extraordinary things happen when people take action. A small step. A simple skill. A lifesaving moment. Heart Walk brings communities together to create health and hope for every heartbeat. Every walker who joins, every dollar donated, means more people trained in CPR, more research and more lifesaving moments for everyone.  

Extraordinary starts with YOU.