Lifesaving Love

Tom Schueddig became CPR certified over 40 years ago. He first learned the lifesaving technique in the late ‘70s, while training to be in the U.S. Air Force. He faithfully became recertified every two years. After four decades, he was never called on to put his CPR skills to use — until he needed to save his wife’s life.

Fast Action

Tom and his wife, Jennifer, spent a peaceful morning in mid-February together. Jennifer, 51, complained of back pain and indigestion but thought nothing of it. While not as common as other symptoms, back pain and indigestion are signs of potential cardiac complications. She started feeling faint and suddenly passed out. She had no pulse.

Tom sat in shock until a voice in his head whispered, “You know CPR.” It was like a switch flipped. He placed Jennifer on the floor and began performing CPR. At the same time, he used voice commands on his phone to call 911. Gladstone Fire and EMS arrived at their home within four minutes. They took over chest compressions and transported Jennifer to North Kansas City Hospital.

All the Difference

Jennifer suffered from myocarditis. This rare condition caused her heart to inflame, fall into an irregular rhythm and go into cardiac arrest, causing her heart to suddenly stop beating. The EMTs used a defibrillator five times to restart her heart after almost 28 minutes without a pulse. Once her heart started again, the concern shifted to whether Jennifer suffered lack of blood flow to her brain. After she was brought out of a medically induced coma by her NKCH care team two days later, Jennifer showed no signs of neurological damage.

Jennifer’s cardiologist attributes her recovery to Tom’s fast action. “To perform CPR in that situation on your own wife is truly remarkable,” said Justin Maxfield, MD, cardiologist with Meritas Health Cardiology. “And he did it well. It made all the difference.”

Dr. Maxfield noted fewer than 10% of those who suffer cardiac arrest outside of the hospital survive, but the chances of survival double or even triple if someone starts CPR quickly.

Prepare Yourself

Tom’s quick action and CPR training made a huge difference. “If any one thing had been different, I wouldn’t be here,” Jennifer said. “Doctors, the EMTs and everyone else reassured me that his immediate CPR is why I’m still here.”