Like George Yamalis, I had a very personal reason for joining the Foundation’s team at this year’s Highmark Walk for Healthy Community. Today, June 2, is the 12th anniversary of my frightening and eye-opening experience with sudden cardiac death.
I was fortunate on that day in 1999 to be among people who were alert enough to immediately call EMTs to the scene and even luckier that a fire department team was only minutes away with defibrillators that re-started my heart and ultimately saved my life. No AED was available at the scene of my event.
While I held down the fort at the Foundation tent, my wife, Lis, walked with the Foundation team because we believe that more lives can be saved if everyone becomes aware that AEDs are not a conveniences in airports, malls, schools, sports facilities and other public places, they are A Must!
Because an AED was utilized in time, I got to stick around to share my life with a wonderful woman who has supported me and encouraged me to live every day to the fullest; to celebrate the birth of three of my four grandchildren and watch them as they grow, and to share with my family the joy of 12 Christmases, Thanksgivings, (which have much more meaning for me now) New Years and Easters as well as dozens of family birthdays, weddings, anniversaries and reunions.
This day also calls to mind those who were not as fortunate. The father of George Yamalis, whose story is told in the attached article, Wes Leonard, an 18-year-old basketball player from Michigan who’s story was told on ESPN, Charleroi High School (Pittsburgh, PA) principal, Vince Vitori and thousands of others who may be alive today if AEDs and people who are trained to use them, were at the scene.
-A.J. Caliendo
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