Survivor: Evan Wagner
Date of Event:
Rescuer(s):Luke Wagner
On a seemingly ordinary Veterans Day in 2020, a mother and her 12-year-old son, Luke, embarked on a jog in their rural Alabama neighborhood. What started as a routine exercise quickly turned into a fight for survival.
Sudden Collapse and a Son's Quick Action
Midway through their run, the mother suffered a sudden cardiac arrest. Luke, witnessing his mother's collapse, sprang into action, running to the nearest house for help. Although the neighbors weren't home, his cries for help reached Laura Lee Taylor Branum, who was outside her house across a pasture.
A Neighbor's Lifesaving Response
Laura Lee, hearing Luke's desperate pleas and seeing the motionless figure on the ground, immediately called 9-1-1. Without hesitation, she drove across the pasture to reach the stricken woman and began performing CPR.
A Community Effort
Luke, meanwhile, ran to get his mother's wife. Laura Lee continued CPR until sheriff's deputies arrived, taking over compressions and using an AED. The local volunteer fire department also joined the effort, using a LUCAS machine to assist with chest compressions.
After nearly 20 agonizing minutes, just as the ambulance arrived, a pulse was finally restored.
A Miraculous Recovery
The mother was rushed to the hospital, where she underwent extensive tests. Although no definitive cause for her cardiac arrest was found, she received an ICD and, remarkably, returned home just three days later.
Her memory of the event and the following days was blank, but she gradually recovered, eventually returning to work full-time within a month.
Grateful for Two Heroes
Today, she lives a full life, free from any restrictions, thanks to the swift and decisive actions of her son, Luke, and her neighbor, Laura Lee. Their combined efforts – Luke's quick recognition of the emergency and Laura Lee's immediate CPR – created a chain of survival that saved her life.
Luke and Laura Lee are shining examples of everyday heroes, proving that courage and compassion can emerge in the most unexpected moments. Their nomination for the People Saving People Award is a testament to their extraordinary bravery and the profound impact they had on one woman's life.