Cardiac Arrest
Thursday night while at karate I went into cardiac arrest. What I remember is bowing in to spar with a black belt from another style named Mike, and Pete telling me to keep my hands up. The next thing I remember is knowing that I was going into cardiac arrest and doing my best to get as close to the floor as I could before falling on my face. The hospital room is the next thing that comes to mind. Since I wasn't conscious I will tell you what happened through the stories I've heard from the many people that were there.
Mike and I lined up to spar - we were going at a decent pace and I managed to kick him pretty hard in the groin. We bowed out and as I was walking away, I dropped down to my knees and got a look of panic on my face. I collapsed, stopped breathing, and lost my pulse. Leslie, a black belt from another style, and Jake, one of our white belts that used to be a life guard, began CPR on me. Anthony, Mike (our black belt), and Brad (one of our lower belts) ran through the IM West building shouting for anybody that knew CPR while Mark called 911. Anthony managed to find one of the volley ball women who knew CPR and she replaced Leslie while Brad, a black belt from another style, and Jake switched who gave me mouth-to-mouth. The karate club counted off compressions and yelled breathe while CPR was being performed. Although they were able to get me breathing and a pulse for short periods of time, they kept losing me. MSU Officer Michael Aguilera arrived and took over the breathing part with one of the bags. Paramedics arrived shortly after and kicked everybody out of the gym and had the officer and a couple of the karate guys go upstairs to clear out the observation area above the turf arena where we were. They cut my gi, shirt and sports bra in order to electroshock me. Finally, they managed to stabilize me. I came out of it aggressive (as is normal) yelling at them to not touch me and that I had Long QT Syndrome. They checked me into the hospital and hooked up all the lead lines and IVs necessary. When I came to I had a very full room of friends and family. My dad was the first person that I saw and I had to bite my tongue to keep from asking Where's mom?! In short time mom, her Michelle, my Michelle, Pete, Pete's brother Mike, Anthony and Tiffany from karate, and my dad were all there.
The icing on the cake happened when I decided that the multitude of pills they'd shoved into me weren't really happy and I yelled at Michelle to find me something because I was going to be sick. I tried to get everybody to leave the room but that just didn't happen. Michelle handed me one of the crescent shaped vomit dishes and as I sat forward I realized that I was still attached through the nose to the oxygen. I leaned back, ripped the tubes out of my nose and sat back up in time to fill the dish - without spilling a drop! Mike kindly took the dish after I was finished. The rest of the night and the next day/evening was spent talking to doctors, nurses and having the story recounted. I had wonderful visitors to help pass the time. I cannot say enough how lucky I am, how grateful I am, or how wonderful I think the Sparrow staff is.
I also cannot say thank you enough to the people who saved my life and to my friends and family who have called and/or stopped by to check in on me. Life is a bit scary right now and I appreciate everything.
Monday morning I have to call and talk to my electrophysiologist, Dr. Thacker. Looks like it's time to have a defibrillator implanted.
Mike and I lined up to spar - we were going at a decent pace and I managed to kick him pretty hard in the groin. We bowed out and as I was walking away, I dropped down to my knees and got a look of panic on my face. I collapsed, stopped breathing, and lost my pulse. Leslie, a black belt from another style, and Jake, one of our white belts that used to be a life guard, began CPR on me. Anthony, Mike (our black belt), and Brad (one of our lower belts) ran through the IM West building shouting for anybody that knew CPR while Mark called 911. Anthony managed to find one of the volley ball women who knew CPR and she replaced Leslie while Brad, a black belt from another style, and Jake switched who gave me mouth-to-mouth. The karate club counted off compressions and yelled breathe while CPR was being performed. Although they were able to get me breathing and a pulse for short periods of time, they kept losing me. MSU Officer Michael Aguilera arrived and took over the breathing part with one of the bags. Paramedics arrived shortly after and kicked everybody out of the gym and had the officer and a couple of the karate guys go upstairs to clear out the observation area above the turf arena where we were. They cut my gi, shirt and sports bra in order to electroshock me. Finally, they managed to stabilize me. I came out of it aggressive (as is normal) yelling at them to not touch me and that I had Long QT Syndrome. They checked me into the hospital and hooked up all the lead lines and IVs necessary. When I came to I had a very full room of friends and family. My dad was the first person that I saw and I had to bite my tongue to keep from asking Where's mom?! In short time mom, her Michelle, my Michelle, Pete, Pete's brother Mike, Anthony and Tiffany from karate, and my dad were all there.
The icing on the cake happened when I decided that the multitude of pills they'd shoved into me weren't really happy and I yelled at Michelle to find me something because I was going to be sick. I tried to get everybody to leave the room but that just didn't happen. Michelle handed me one of the crescent shaped vomit dishes and as I sat forward I realized that I was still attached through the nose to the oxygen. I leaned back, ripped the tubes out of my nose and sat back up in time to fill the dish - without spilling a drop! Mike kindly took the dish after I was finished. The rest of the night and the next day/evening was spent talking to doctors, nurses and having the story recounted. I had wonderful visitors to help pass the time. I cannot say enough how lucky I am, how grateful I am, or how wonderful I think the Sparrow staff is.
I also cannot say thank you enough to the people who saved my life and to my friends and family who have called and/or stopped by to check in on me. Life is a bit scary right now and I appreciate everything.
Monday morning I have to call and talk to my electrophysiologist, Dr. Thacker. Looks like it's time to have a defibrillator implanted.