Thanksgiving 2021, was one of the scariest days of my life.
My mom, SIL and I were sitting at the table thumbing through ads for Black Friday. My dad had just walked in from the garage and as he entered the kitchen, he collapsed.
My initial reaction was to call 911. As I was on the phone with the dispatcher, I will never forget the fear I saw in my brother's eyes as he attempted to get a response from my dad, to no avail. It was at that time, I handed off the phone, got down to the floor and began administering CPR.
I had to overcome so much fear in those split seconds: Did I remember my training? Was I going to do it correctly? Am I going to hurt my Dad? What if it didn't work?
After one chest compression, my Dad immediately responded. My fear turned to joy and relief.
We later learned from the doctors that my actions saved my Dad's life.
To further support CPR education (which I hope you’ll never need), I’ve committed to lead the Midwest Region of Burns & McDonnell for the American Heart Association Heart Walk again this year. Holly has been voluntold (LOL) to coach again because she did such a great job meeting our 2024 team goal.
Since Holly doesn't have opposable thumbs, I’m inviting you and your dog(s) to join our team. Together, we can support the lifesaving mission of teaching CPR and fight heart disease and stroke in our community.
I’m looking for 5-6 puppers to join Holly and me on our team. Or, if you could commit a small donation on behalf of our team, we would be incredibly grateful. Any amount would be appreciated! Thank you!
9 out of 10 people who suffer cardiac arrest outside the hospital die. In most of those cases, bystander CPR was not performed. But we can change this.
Cardiac arrests happen at work, in homes, on athletic fields and in neighborhoods everywhere, and the readiness of our community can be the difference between life and death.
It's time to unite, take action, and save lives. Every dollar donated, means more people trained in lifesaving CPR, more research and more lifesaving moments for everyone. Together, we can turn bystanders into lifesavers.
I Walk to Save Lives. Help me reach my goal today.