I want to recognize two Extraordinary Nurses for a recent personal event. My father was working out at a local gym in Rhode Island when he collapsed. A husband and wife, both nurses at The Miriam Hospital witnessed him collapse and immediately assessed and began CPR, applying an AED and shocking him three times. After 6 minutes without a pulse, they were able to resuscitate him. He was then transported to another facility where other teams of exceptional nurses cared for him. After a 5-day hospitalization in the Cardiac ICU and step down he was released with a stent and a defibrillator but without any visible cardiac or neurologic damage.
We were told repetitively by the paramedics, the nurses, and doctors that 99.9% of out of hospital cardiac arrests result in death or severe debilitation. It was only the quick response of these two nurses that saved his life and provided him with the excellent quality of life he is experiencing. As the daughter of a nurse, and a nurse myself, I know how valuable nurses are and how they go above and beyond every day to meet the needs of the individuals they care for.
In this case, my father suffered cardiac death and they literally brought him back to life- outside of the hospital- in their free time while exercising together. For this reason, I would like to recognize Nigel and Mackenzie Leighton for their outstanding efforts to care for my father. They epitomize the DAISY spirit in so many ways and I would be honored to see them recognized.