Surviving Cardiac Arrest [Video]

Kevin Wilson went out to play pickup basketball with his son in late December, “We played a game. Everything was fine. We started into the second game…. That’s when this hit me. I was coming up the court, and all of a sudden, I knew something was wrong. The lights just started dimming, and it went out. I went black. I collapsed there.”

Kevin went into cardiac arrest. “I had guardian angels around me that day because several of the guys that were with me, one was an RN nurse. He immediately started CPR.”

The quick action to call 911, preform CPR, and apply an AED saved his life. He was rushed to the emergency department and after tests, doctors told him, “Your four main arteries are 95 to 100 percent blocked. I’m like doc you got the wrong guy you sure you got the right file here that can’t be me,” said Wilson.

He needed a quadruple bypass. Cardiothoracic Surgeon Dr. Micheal DeFrain said CABG is one of the most common procedures he does. “We create a brand-new circulation in addition to that circulation to make sure that regardless of what happens to the native blockage or narrowing, there is a safety net of blood flow for your heart muscle.”

Surgery went well and Wilson was able to recover at home 3 days later. After rest and cardiac rehab, he’s feeling great and encouraging everyone to take care of their health and learn CPR and how to use an AED. “To say I’m very grateful, I realize that I’m very fortunate and blessed to be here because not all people would have made this through,” said Wilson. “You may be fine, but maybe you’re like me. The doctors in the ER called me the walking, ticking time bomb, and that could be you just like it was me.”

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