Whose Life Will You Save?
Every single day, we save lives.
Many of them, by helping people live healthier lifestyles — and avoiding certain kinds of cardiovascular disease.
And many, by direct intervention, by saving them from heart attack, arrhythmia or other life-threatening conditions.
Each of those people has a story. You can learn them through the links below.
Do you have a survivor story to tell? Contact us and we’ll help you spread the word … and save a life.
Don Sprague
It was 2:30 in the morning when Don Sprague told his wife Mary he wasn't feeling well. When arm numbness joined the pressure in his chest, Don and Mary
Ken Gamble
One day, Ken found himself feeling uncomfortable and short of breath. With a family history of heart disease, he decided not to take any chances and immediately went to the doctor's office. Once there, he was quickly transported to the hospital. He was having a heart attack.
Paula Davis Rowley
Her son was four and her daughter fourteen when Paula had her heart attack four years ago. She has since then learned that she has Prinzmetal's angina. At 46 years of age, Paula jokes that she takes more medication than her parents.
Madeline Owens
It was every parent's worst nightmare.
Ron awoke to the sound of his ten-year-old daughter having a seizure, certainly frightening, but not unusual. Madeline was being seen by doctors for what was thought to be a neurological condition.
Upon running to his daughter, it became clear this was not a "normal" seizure. Ron watched his daughter take her last breath. She was in cardiac arrest.
Leo Staudacher
A diehard Notre Dame fan, Leo and his three sons enjoy going to football games. The matchup between Notre Dame and the University of Michigan is a particular favorite.
Arriving early at the Ann Arbor stadium in 2011, Leo and his sons walked around and grabbed a bite to eat. The day was perfect. A short time later, Leo felt like he had heartburn, particularly on the right side of his chest. He thought nothing of it and tried burping to ease the pain.
Patricia Bonnell
For Patricia “Patti” Bonnell, October 20, 2010 began like any other day, but it wouldn’t end that way. She started the day off with a visit to the beauty shop and then went to Kroger’s to pick up a few things. She chatted with a worker and headed to the checkout lanes. She felt tired, but shrugged it off; everyone feels tired. She wouldn’t remember anything until a week later.
David Schatzer
Nearly 80% of all out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen in the home. Are you prepared to help a loved one if the need arises?
It is a situation none of us want to face. When someone collapses from a heart attack or sudden cardiac arrest, every second counts. You could be that person's only chance for survival.
No one knows this better than David Schatzer whose life was saved by his wife Marian when she found him unresponsive.
Brittney Butcher
Kids get sick all the time, right? But in this case, the headaches and vomiting that Brittney suffered in November 2008 were a sign of something far more dire than the flu.
An x-ray showed an enlarged heart and a blood clot in her lower left ventricle.