Sasha Ballard
June 2022
Sasha
Ballard
,
RN
Cardiopulmonary Critical Care (CPCC)
UAB Hospital
Birmingham
,
AL
United States

 

 

 

Sasha jumped in and found that the patient was unresponsive and had no pulse, so she started compressions and initiated basic life support (BLS).
Sasha was at a local gym working out, when she noticed a young woman unconscious on the ground being attended to by a UAB medical student and a UAB nursing student. Sasha jumped in and found that the patient was unresponsive and had no pulse, so she started compressions and initiated basic life support (BLS). She was able to obtain an AED and the young woman was shocked twice, initially achieving the return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Then, the woman seized and lost a pulse yet again. Sasha continued CPR on this young woman until paramedics arrived and were able to relieve her. The patient was taken to UAB Hospital for treatment. According to a most recent update from a family member, the young woman was born with a severe congenital defect that was repaired when she was an infant, and she was scheduled for a follow-up appointment in the coming months. The family member also said the young woman would not have survived the EMS trip to the hospital had it not been for Sasha’s bravery and commitment to helping others. Thanks to Sasha’s efforts, this young woman is doing well with no hypoxic injuries! We are proud to have Sasha as part of the CPCC staff, and we are inspired by her bravery.