My wife was pregnant with our second child when she called me at work to notify me she was on the way to the ER.  I left immediately and by the time I arrived, her heart was beating over 200 bpm.  She was suffering supraventricular tachycardia that led to cardiac arrest within a few minutes.  She pegged the meter at 300 bpm and was out.  The ER staff had to shock her twice to bring her back.  After her stay in the ICU, she had to have a defibrillator implanted during the pregnancy as well.  Thankfully, we wound up having the most wonderful baby girl, but not without future complications.  The sequence of events that resulted from that day have affected our lives everyday since.  This event came unexpectedly and without warning for her.  A healthy young woman, a college athlete, and a mother with a successful pregnancy prior to this without complications or signs of any issues.  The lesson is that this can happen to anyone.  I'm grateful that she realized something felt wrong when she was at work that day and asked a coworker to drive her to the ER.  Most people aren't so fortunate.  My wife is a survivor, and this is our family's story.

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. Help me reach my goal today!