Tammy Reather, Broken Arrow, OK – 37 at time of event (October 23, 2007)
I am a healthy and young 37-year-old wife and Mom to six teens, and I am a nurse. On October 23, 2007, I was dropping off my girls at soccer practice when I experienced an SCA (sudden cardiac arrest). It was two weeks to the day since I lost my Dad.
Two women came to my van when the engine was revving and noticed I was unresponsive. A doctor just happened to be walking by and he removed me from the van and performed CPR until paramedics arrived. It took four shocks with a defibrillator to bring me back.
I was on a ventilator for three days and in the hospital for seven days. Then I came home new permanent friend, an ICD. At times, I have palpitations and arrhythmias, lasting no more than six seconds (so far), but there is no diagnosis.
I don’t have long QT syndrome or any other condition they can find. I have no heart disease. I am “healthy.”
And I am very grateful just to be alive! God is not finished with me yet!
- SCA Survivor Registry submission