SCA Stories

A founding member of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation, and instrumental in the development of both the “Chain of Survival” and the “Call Push Shock” movement, Mary Newman has focused her career on raising awareness about the prevention and treatment of Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). Mary speaks about the heartbreaking challenges and sources of inspiration …

Dominic Murray’s Sudden Cardiac Arrest Story Avive Solutions Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) refers to a condition in which the heart stops pumping blood abruptly due to a disruption in the heart’s electrical rhythm. Without a proper heartbeat, SCA disables the flow of blood to vital organs, including the brain, and causes death within minutes.  What many …

Jennifer Chap describes her surreal experience providing CPR to save her husband Rick’s life on what started out as an otherwise typical day working from home. While on a busy conference call with a client, Jen’s beloved cat, Buddy, began behaving erratically, desperately trying to get her attention. When she went to investigate what was …

Ed Kosiec was training for his fourth marathon, in the best shape of his life, when he experienced Sudden Cardiac Arrest while at Chik-fil-A. Fortunately for Ed Kosiec, 18 year-old Sarah was cooking fries in the kitchen when he collapsed that day.

Dr. Allison Dupont, an interventional cardiologist in north Georgia, reflects on her experience responding to a cardiac arrest emergency on a plane during a flight.

Dr. Bourne, a cardiologist in the SF Bay Area, reflects on his experience responding to two out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. One time he had an AED, one time he didn’t. What was the difference?

Rhonda Harrill has worked relentlessly to protect kids in Tennessee from Sudden Cardiac Arrest with impressive legislative victories. After losing her son Tanner to SCA while playing basketball, Rhonda became an advocate for preparing schools to save lives from cardiac arrest, the #1 cause of death among student athletes.

When Katrysha collapsed at work, her quick-thinking colleagues performed CPR. But there was no AED in the building to restart her heart. Hear how she survived!

How one mother is working to change medical military protocol

When Chibuzo Ikonta, a sophmore on the Valencia High School Basketball team, suddenly collapsed and lost consciousness at practice after school, his peers sprang into action. Valencia High School has a unique Medical Science Academy that prepares students not only for careers but emergencies just like this by certifying them all in CPR and AED …

“I got to hold the AED that saved this mom, and I feel like it’s Peyton’s heart beating.” Julie Walker lost her 19 year-old daughter suddenly and tragically to Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). Since then, Julie has been a tireless advocate for SCA survival with CPR training, ECG screening, AED donations, and legislative change. At …

Bill and Shawn share their inspiring stories of survival and gratitude. 16 year-old Lexi was a healthy, avid athlete when her heart suddenly stopped while she was running on the treadmill. Bill Sick was exercising nearby when he saw Lexi collapse and fly backwards. Alongside three other gym members, Bill performed CPR and used an AED to …