On August 19, 2023, just over a year after having triple bypass surgery, my dad Terry (T Wags), woke up suddenly after feeling something in his chest. It was discovered at the University of Toledo Medical Center that he experienced an aortic dissection and would need urgent, life-saving surgery. He was life-flighted to the University of Michigan's Frankel Cardiovascular Center where after 12 days in and out of the operating room, he ultimately passed away on August 31, 2023.
CPR would not have saved my dad's life, but I believe more life saving science and research could help prevent another family from experiencing a loss like we have.
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.