By Leann Pegg
One Sunday morning, my crew and I had just finished truck checks when we got called out for chest pains.
As we were coming up to the scene, dispatch notified us that the patient was now not breathing. So, we thought, “Here we go, we have a full arrest.”
We called for an engine crew then grabbed our equipment and ran inside. The home was a single-wide trailer right next to a small community church. The wife had stated that the patient was having chest pains during service and came next door. The patient was the father of the minister for the church next door.
He was in a recliner and we moved him to the floor. I started CPR as my partner, Charlie, got the airway ready and hooked up the AED. About that time, the medic arrived on scene. Charlie advised to stop CPR and analyzed. During this time, the church had let out and word had gotten out that the minister’s father had died.
The patient’s son and some of the congregation had come over to the home — about 20 to 25 people. Everyone started praying while we were working on the patient.
Then, shock was advised. Charlie cleared and shocked. When he cleared, I raised my hands up above my shoulders. The congregation also raised their hands above their shoulders and prayed louder.
The patient’s wife laid her hands on my head and prayed over me as I resumed CPR. After another two minutes, we had him back.
By the time we got him in the ambulance, he was talking to us. After a week or so, we received a visit from the man to thank us. He had a double bypass and was recovering nicely. We get a Christmas card from him and his family each year.
I believe the man was saved not just by us but by all the praying and of course a much high power. We had a heck of a crew that day — a lot more than the normal shift.