I was deep in a spreadsheet at work when I felt the world slip away. It didn’t hurt—it was just as if someone had flicked a switch. I later learned my coworkers found me collapsed at my desk and sprang into action. One of them had taken a CPR course just a month before. They started compressions while security radioed for help. The emergency team arrived fast. One shock with a defibrillator, and somehow, my heart caught a rhythm again.

I woke up two days later in the ICU, confused and tired. The doctors explained I’d suffered sudden cardiac arrest—something that kills thousands every year with little to no warning. I was one of the lucky ones. Recovery was slow and surreal. Each day I fought fatigue and fear, but with support, I began to heal. Cardiac rehab became my new routine, and a wearable heart monitor gave me confidence to push forward.

Now I’m back at work, but everything feels different. I make time for my health. I check in on people more. I speak at employee wellness sessions—not just as a survivor, but as someone who knows the power of preparation. CPR didn’t just save me—it gave me a second chapter, one I intend to write with purpose.

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