I have never felt so connected to the full scope of the work of the American Heart Association as I did in late September 2021. I was working on a news release about how to improve the system of care for out of hospital heart attacks and was learning so much about what happens when someone has a heart attack or cardiac arrest and the importance of taking immediate action. Minutes Matter. That was the headline of the news release.
As I had my head focused on purely intellectual thoughts about our nation's health systems, I received a call from my parents. My sister had fallen at home--or maybe collapsed-- and was in ICU. As the day continued I learned my brother in law had made all the right decisions. She was nonresponsive so he started CPR and he called 911. The operator got EMTs there within 15 minutes. The operator was also trained to help him keep CPR going while the EMTs arrived. Her heart was still beating -- he had kept her alive. He was in tears, exhausted from the hard work of CPR and terrified of what was next.
The entire family was able to fly or drive in -- none of us live nearby -- and it was clear that while her heart was beating, her brain had not received the oxygen it needed to keep her alive for long. We made the difficult decision with her care team to let her go 48 hours after she went into cardiac arrest.
While I am asking that you consider financially supporting our mission to save lives, I have other requests as well. Join us in saving lives. Volunteer with your local American Heart Association office, join our advocacy force to pass policies that save lives at www.yourethecure.org -- like the policy in place that ensured all 911 operators in his state are trained in coaching someone through CPR.
And I beg of you to watch this video. Share it with your family and friends. Talk to your kids about CPR and how it can be done 'hands only' and save a life -- a stranger or your loved ones. Maybe even yours. Women are less likely to receive CPR -- don't let that be the case for your sister, mother, wife or daughter. Be ready!
