Cardiac Arrest Survivor's Care Begins at Church, Ends at Texas Health Dallas

DALLAS, Jan. 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sitting in church, praise music surrounded Bob Richardson; however, his life would soon be transformed by a physician sitting a few feet away. His remarkable journey would take him from CPR in the pew to lifesaving care at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas.

"I was reciting the Lord's Prayer, and everything went dark," Richardson said.

Thanks to bystander CPR, Richardson survived sudden cardiac arrest.

"I heard a strange noise to my right and saw a woman trying to hold up her husband," said Gary Weinstein, M.D., a pulmonologist on the Texas Health Dallas medical staff. "He was ashen and turning blue — he did not look good."

Weinstein checked for a pulse and felt nothing. Immediately, he began CPR. Minutes later, someone gave him an automated external defibrillator (AED).

Weinstein performed CPR, allowing Richardson to breathe again. A few minutes later, paramedics arrived and rushed him to the hospital.

"Nurses were calling me the 'miracle baby,' but I was just extremely blessed with the right people at the right time," Richardson said.

To address future events of cardiac arrest, an implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) was recommended.

"The electronic device is about the size of a stopwatch, and it's connected to the heart with small wires," said Brian Le, M.D., a cardiac electrophysiologist on the Texas Health Dallas medical staff, who performed the procedure.

"Bystander CPR and AEDs are lifesaving, and it can be the difference between life and death," Le said. Richardson wholeheartedly agrees.

"It was just uncanny that this happened at a church, and Dr. Weinstein was there," he said. "It's a scary experience, but I'm so appreciative for my church family and everyone at Texas Health Dallas."

Learn more here (https://www.texashealth.org/Newsroom/News-Releases/2023/Cardiac-Arrest-Survivors-Care-Begins-at-Church-ends-with-Quality-Treatment-at-Texas-Health-Dallas).

Texas Health Resources is a faith-based, nonprofit health system that cares for more patients in North Texas than any other provider. With a service area that consists of 16 counties and more than 7 million people, the system is committed to providing quality, coordinated care through its Texas Health Physicians Group and 29 hospital locations. The system has more than 4,100 licensed hospital beds, 6,400 physicians with active staff privileges and more than 28,000 employees.   

SOURCE Texas Health Resources