After a fun weekend with my wife celebrating our engagement anniversary, a single moment in time later that day changed the rest of my life. On May 7, 2023, after having dinner and dessert, my wife and I went to our bedroom to watch TV. As I sat on my bed, I said to my wife that I did not feel good and then I fell over on my bed into a fetal position. At 8:08pm, I suffered a sudden cardiac arrest. I stopped breathing and I didn’t have a heart beat. My wife yelled for our son, who was in the living room watching TV, to call 911 because I wasn’t breathing.

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He called and then gave her the phone, and he started performing CPR on me. My daughter took the phone from my wife to speak with the 911 operator and then my wife and son moved me off the bed onto the floor and then he continued to perform CPR as she was guiding and helping him until two police offers arrived with an AED machine. The machine was hooked up to me, and I was administered a shock which brought me back to life at 8:17pm. The paramedics arrived and took me to the hospital. I was brought to Jersey Shore University Medical Center. I didn’t understand what happened to me and I did not understand the severity of the situation. I told everyone that I felt OK, and I asked the hospital staff if I would go home so I could go to the gym in the morning and go to work. Of course, I was told no.  I was in the hospital for 6 days. My cardiologist discovered 5 blockages  in my arteries in my heart which I received stents in those blocked arteries. Prior to me leaving, I was advised to have an ICD installed which I turned down, then I was advised to have a loop recorder installed which I also turned down. I was released with a Life Vest. Going home was a very emotional day for me and my family. I am very lucky and blessed to be alive but there was more to come.

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My original date to have my follow-up appointment with my cardiologist was two weeks after leaving the hospital. But I called to make an appointment earlier because I had a list of questions to ask the doctor. Who knew that I needed to be at the doctor’s office on this day. On May16, 2023, in the late morning, my life vest went into an alarm which meant a shock was to be administered. I had the control to not let a shock from the vest happen. Within the next hour, the alarm went off again.  Once again, I stopped the shock. I called the Life Vest company to discuss why the vest wanted to shock me. They informed me that one of the readings was false and the other was accurate. At this time, I did not trust the life vest. Later in the afternoon was my appointment with the cardiologist. While I was in the doctor’s office, my heartrate increased to 148 beats per minute. The doctor tried to make my heart rate go down by pushing my vein in my neck, but it did not work. Then a medication was given to me by IV, but my heart rate increased to 153 beats per minute.

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The doctor said I had to go back to the hospital. An ambulance arrived and took me back to Jersey Shore. The doctor tried to bring down my heart rate by giving me different medicines, but nothing worked. It was decided that an Electrical Cardioversion would be done. Basically, that is being shocked by AED machine to try to bring my heart rate back to normal. It was done twice. It hurt very much even though I was medicated. It did not work. My heart rate was high, and my blood pressure was low.  The overnight hours were very difficult because I just kept checking my heart rate and blood pressure readings throughout the night. The next morning at 5:55 am, after having a EKG done, my heart rate and blood pressure returned to normal.

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May 18, 2023, was one of the scariest nights of my life. I was scheduled to have an MRI of my heart. The MRI took 1.5 hours to complete. During the MRI process, I was taken out of the MRI machine because my heartrate increased and then put back in. When the MRI scan was done and I was removed from the MRI machine, my body was very stiff. Then I was put back in the wheelchair to go back to my room. I felt as if I was having an anxiety attack, and my heart was racing. I saw on the monitor that my heart rate was264 beats per minute, and I knew I was in trouble. At 10:30pm, I suffered another Sudden Cardiac Arrest. I was given CPR and I was brought back to life by a shock from an AED machine at 10:34pm. I was put under sedation, and I was intubated. I was put in a medical coma. The following day, I had an ICD installed in my upper left chest.

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On 5/23/2023, I was released from the hospital. Prior to leaving the hospital, my wife requested that I meet with a Physiologist to talk about my anxiety issues. I was diagnosed with PTSD and PICS. That night my son and the two police officers that responded to my home were honored by the Jackson Township Council with a Proclamation for helping save my life. During the ceremony, my daughter was able to give a speech in my honor.

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The Speech:

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On May 7th, 2023, my father suffered from his first cardiac arrest. My dad went unconscious into a fetal position, and my mother screamed my brother’s name. My brother went into action and continued CPR until the police officers and paramedics arrived. Both police officers Zach and William were amazing to my father & my family. Including Zach, calming my mom down as much as he could and both using an AED machine on my father which woke him up. Seeing the light in my father’s eyes again & hearing him say his name brought me peace & hope. With 4 stents in his heart on the 10th and 1 on the 11th, a hospital visit on the 16th from a high heart rate, another cardiac arrest on the 18th while in the hospital, then ICD being put in on the 19th.Now it is a day-by-day road to recovery. Our dad just got out of the hospital today and will get a cardiac ablation in the future. It was best for him to stay home and rest during this recovery time. I started to call our dad IRONMAN for everything he has been through in this time; mentally and physically. He is such a fighter and so strong. I hope one day I can be as strong and as positive as our father. We all appreciate the 100s of people who given us prayers and healing hands during this time. I can’t thank my brother enough for being so strong and brave to perform CPR on our dad until the police officers arrived on scene and got my dad talking, breathing and awake again. You guys are all superheroes in my eyes. In the end, as a family, we want to share the importance of knowing CPR and becoming educated. There are applications to learn CPR classes you can take, and we feel it is important to share this story to inspire people to become certified & save someone’s life. Only 18% of people are updated on CPR training from a Harvard university article published in 2022 & the knowing of CPR can help the patient not have brain damage and keep their blood flowing which could result in the saving of a life. We hope everyone here becomes certified, educated, and spread awareness for knowing CPR.

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After my return home, I changed my entire lifestyle. I stopped smoking cigarettes after 40 years, I stopped vaping, I stopped drinking caffeine, and I changed my entire diet to eat healthy foods and very low sodium intake. The foods I eat are seafood, chicken, fruit, and vegetables and I drink water. I started to try walking daily around my pool. On my first walk, I was only able to walk for 6 minutes. I promised myself to add 2 minutes a day to my walk until I reach 60 minutes. I reached my goal of 60 minutes and achieved more than 2 miles walking. I became a changed person. I was able to show emotions and be sensitive. I do not want stress or conflict in my life. I started getting anxiety attacks, so I started online therapy with a counselor. As I worked on my mental health, I learned a lot about myself and how to deal with my new lifestyle. There are many techniques to use to push yourself forward mentally and physically. Many of my issues were from my anxiety. Some things I learned to do were to write in a journal, use deep breathing techniques, listen to daily meditations and to be mindful. I did exposure therapy with my wife and kids, and I did CBT therapy with my councilor.  I was out of work for 6 months because of not being able to drive a car.

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In August 2023, I had an appointment with a heart failure specialist doctor. He had me do a PET scan. The results of the PET scan showed I have cardiac sarcoidosis, and I had inflammation in my heart. I had to take high dosages of steroid medication.

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In October 2023, I started a Facebook group. The name of the group is Sudden Cardiac Arrest Survivors Mental Health Awareness. The group’s focus is on mental health awareness for all. My family and I work on the group and the postings. We have been posting the best practices for mental health. I continue to work on my nutrition. I keep on trying to make new meals and snacks that are good in nutritional value and have flavor. I have been taking pictures of many of my dishes, and I have posted them. I have been trying to prepare for my return to work. I think working for 8 hours will be a major physical adjustment for me. My body and mind will need time and practice to be ready. On October 23, 2023, this day marked my 5-month anniversary from being released from the hospital. On this day I felt like my “New Normal Self”. Mentally and physically, I have felt good.

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November 7, 2023, was 6 months since surviving in SCA. I started driving and I felt comfortable on my first drive with my wife. I have a meeting with my supervisor at 9:30am in the main office on Monday 11/20/23. The visit to the office will be my first visit in over 6 months. I have some anxious feelings about going to the office and seeing, talking, and meeting people I have not seen in a long time. I know everything will be ok and I am prepared to take my last step in returning to my new normal life. The night prior, I didn’t have much sleep because I was feeling like I did as a kid going to their first day back in school after a summer break. I had nervous excitement.

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Thanksgiving Day was a very meaningful day to me. I am alive, feeling healthy and supported by my family and friends. Today is my 6th month anniversary since being released from the hospital.

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After getting back to work, I have found a schedule that works for me. I walk three days a week at the gym, I do yoga three days a week at home, and I try to meditate a few days a week. I continue eating and drinking healthy. I continue to work on my mental strength, and I have been progressing. Christmas morning was very touching. I felt some anxiety which affected my heart rate, but the anxious feelings went away, and I was able to calm down. I was excited but nervous at the same time because I was able to be with my family on this very special day. The gifts are great but just sitting with my family and spending quality time with them is the best. As 2023 comes to an end, I would have never imagined the highs and the lows that we have experienced this past year. As I sat in my bed and typed these words, I am in the same spot where the most difficult experience started. It was the start of the worst nightmare and the start of my greatest dream. I did not suffer a sudden cardiac arrest, but I survived a sudden cardiac arrest. My new journey in life started that night. The journey has not been easy and smooth, but I continue to reach new heights, and I continue to better myself. All this would not have been possible without so many people’s help. I cannot thank my family enough for helping to save my life. They are my strength and my will that push me to survive. I greatly appreciate The Jackson Township police officers, the EMTs, the doctors, the nurses and the staff in the hospital and the offices, our friends, coworkers, my counselor, the Facebook groups and people I have meet during this time. I am looking forward to celebrating and enjoying the new year. Saying “Have a Healthy and a Happy New Year” has never been moremeaningful to me than now after what we have experience.  Make it count, enjoy the time, faith over fear, heart strength, sudden cardiac survivor mental health awareness.

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On January 26, 2024, I met with my heart specialist doctor. He gave me the most amazing news from the results from the PET scan. My heart inflammation has stopped and disappeared. Cardiac sarcoidosis has gone dormant. It is amazing news, and I am truly blessed. It has been over 8 months of being nervous about what could be. It feels like I can finally exhale completely. I will not go back to my old lifestyle because I feel better physically and mentally in the new way, I live the second half of my life. There is a part of me that feels sad/guilty for those who did not make it or those who are not healed, or those who do not believe or have their confidence in themselves. Ninety percent of people who have a sudden cardiac arrest do not survive. I may have been a part of that percentage even though the issues that created my problem were able to be solved. I believe that I have been trying to set an example of what could and can be in overcoming a life-threatening event. I believe in the changes I have made in the way I live life physically and mentally, the belief I have in my medical personnel and the medicine I take, the confidence and love provided for me by my family and friends has brought me to this point in my journey.  I look forward to my future, and I will continue to help others to recover.

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On May 7, 2024, I celebrated my first-year anniversary of surviving sudden cardiac arrest. My daughter had the EMT’s and the paramedics that responded to my call to come over to our home. This was the first time I was able to meet them. We all sat in my backyard, we ate, and we talked. Before they left, we all took pictures. Three of the pictures were used in a story posted on News12. The story explained what had happened to me, how I was saved and me meeting them on the year anniversary. This was a wonderful, emotional and meaningful experience for me, my family and these people. We learned this was the first time they were able to meet someone after having a cardiac arrest.

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What a year in my life.‍