Amy McMurphy was picking up a prescription for her daughter at a local pharmacy when she heard a woman screaming for help. Her husband had stopped breathing. Amy raced to provide assistance. Bystanders had removed the patient from the car and Amy, finding the young man in full arrest, immediately initiated CPR and continued until EMS arrived to transport the patient to MHC. The patient was resuscitated and admitted to MHC ICU.
As with most heroes, Amy sees the experience as just being in the right place at the right time and doing what anyone would do. The sad reality is not just anyone would have gone to that man's aide. It takes a person with compassion, the courage to act, the resolve to see that act through to the end, and the strength to accept whatever the outcome and be willing to do it all again. It seems there are exceptionally few people left in this world with those qualities, but Amy is certainly one of them. Everyone I've spoken with involved in this situation agrees that she saved that man's life.
I've worked in healthcare in some capacity for 20 years. I've seen codes, been involved in too many to count, and I know how extraordinary a feat this is. Of the dozens of codes I've witnessed, only one was resuscitated and the final outcome was certainly not positive. As of this writing, Amy's young man has been transferred to a step-down unit and is alert, oriented and hungry. Showing no deficits or ill effects resulting from his cardiac arrest and expected to discharge in a day or two. Ready to resume a life he wouldn't have if it weren't for Amy.
Amy had a profound impact on that young man's life and has changed the lives of countless others. Our hospital and our entire region are lucky to have her. She makes the world a better place.