Carla Martin, RN, saved my life. We were out shopping with a group of friends and I collapsed. She started CPR as soon as she could not find a pulse. All of my friends who were there stated I was turning gray. She continued compressions until the squad arrived. I woke up in the squad and was transported to the nearest hospital I did not even know that she performed CPR until three weeks later when I awoke from a long inpatient stay at St. Elizabeth Hospital Edgewood. My church had an emergency prayer service for me in which Carla got up and spoke as I needed many prayers after I coded again in Cardiac Cath for about 30-40 minutes. Then they took me to exploratory open heart to find the problem as I was reported to unlikely live. I'm grateful for her nursing skills and ability to jump in when I needed her most.

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This was an especially compelling story for our organization.  Carla is a long-time nurse here who worked as an L&D nurse for most of her career.  A few years ago she transitioned into IT and is an Application Coordinator with the Epic team. The patient/ nomination writer is also a long-time nurse at our organization. Carla and the nominator have been friends for decades. While out with friends, the patient collapsed on the sidewalk. Carla's nursing skills were engaged, and she performed CPR for a solid five minutes. It was later determined that she suffered a widow-maker heart attack. She was on ECMO for two weeks, spent a total of 7 weeks in the hospital, and two weeks in a rehab facility. Today, she is fully recovered and feeling great. We invited Carla's entire family to the surprise celebration, and the patient herself read the nomination.  It was a very emotional, happy celebration.  One of our best ever!