Sam and Blake
Sam’s second sudden cardiac arrest happened 18 months ago this month. Many of you who have shared this journey with us, or have followed Sam’s story recognize what an emotional rollercoaster our family has endured.
Now imagine that you are one of the EMT/firemen who responded to that call, but never knew what happened to your patient. Your memories include responding to a call at the university campus where you found a young man with a heart condition who was alert, but being shocked by his ICD. You know this must mean he is suffering from a bad arrhythmia and this is confirmed when you hook up your 12 lead EKG and see it on the monitor. As you are rushing him to the hospital, he went into cardiac arrest. You begin CPR. You get him to the hospital and the emergency room personnel take over. Your job is done. But you don’t forget. You often reflect back on that call, but assume that the outcome could not have been a good one.
Now imagine that you are that EMT and you are at a university football game almost 18 months later and you see someone who has been in your memory all of these months. “When I saw him at the football game, I could not believe my eyes. I never forgot his face.”
Now imagine that you are Sam’s mom and you hear this story of how they met and you are grateful all over again for ALL of the people who have been part of Sam’s survival story. You are grateful to Blake, the EMT, and for each and every person who God placed in Sam’s path that day and didn’t give up.
