I called 999 and yelled my address and that I needed an ambulance RIGHT NOW. From the last time (only two weeks before) I knew D had almost no chance if I just sat and waited. I was losing him. I had to do something.
I’m not in any way medical. I’ve never had CPR training. But it was me or nothing. So I pulled him off the bed onto the floor and started battering Staying Alive onto his chest with two hands. (Later the paramedic would tell me I did good. Thank fuck.)
The paramedics came quickly. (Though it seemed an age as I kept repeating that motion.) Two ambulances and two cars ended up arriving. I think there were seven people working on him at one point in our bedroom.
They had to shock him six times. They drilled into his shin bone to give him drugs. Those amazing people fought just as hard as I had been to save him. But with all their skill and knowledge and equipment. They got him stable enough to get him to hospital.
My amazing friend had arrived by this point to take me to the hospital. We followed the ambulance up to Golden Jubilee and then after all that high adrenaline, it was time to wait and see. More brilliant friends arrived to support me. We sat in a tiny, very warm room.
After two and a bit hours, the consultant came in and very kindly and gently, but also accurately and clearly, said D was still with us and heading to ICU. They’d got his heart rhythm back under control. We weren’t out of the woods yet, but it was good news.
Then began the wait to see if his brain had been injured. Whether he was still in there in all his creativity and kindness and funniness. He was intubated and sedated when I got in to see him. We were waiting to see if, and how, he came round. His skin felt so cold.
It took hours of me talking to him without knowing if he could hear, but finally his eyes opened and he could follow the instruction to squeeze my hand. Wow.
A couple of hours later he was spelling out “what happened?” with his finger on my hand. A couple more hours, & they took the tube out. We were able to kiss goodnight. He’s still in hospital, but getting better. I will get to take him home. So desperately unlucky / lucky.
What I’ve learned / had reinforced from this crazy few weeks: - fight for the people you love - defend the NHS at all costs - my friends and family are amazing - my husband is the bravest, strongest, hardest-fighting man I know - we should all know CPR
Thank you to all the people who saved my beautiful husband. And to all the people who’ve supported both of us through this horrendous rollercoaster. Hug your people close. 🖤
Thanks to everybody who got in touch following this thread. It got a lot more attention than I anticipated! The conversations have been amazing. Sorry to anyone whose message I missed. I’m really pleased to hear a lot of people saying they’ll consider doing first aid training 🙌🏻
@laurakaykelly So true. My dad arrested post anaesthetic on Monday. They got him back and managed to complete the surgery, but sadly he never made it out of ICU. The medics were all amazing tho, and fought with everything they had to save him. Hope your story continues on it's upward trajectory
@laurakaykelly Oh my word. Hubby had heart attack 6 yrs ago (and recovered well 🙏🏻). Well done you for CPR. 🙌 Had the heart/ICU situation with my dad 14 yrs ago (who didn’t recover 😢). Make sure you look after yourself too. Nurse told me - you’ve been through trauma too. ❤️
@laurakaykelly This is an amazing story & you did so well. My friend had exactly the same experience, arrested twice at home. Wife did cpr both times. That was 7 years ago. He’s really well now. So trust he’ll recover and be proud you reacted as you did.
@laurakaykelly Your story sounds nearly exactly like mine. I saved my husband from a “widow maker” heart attack. Thankfully I already knew CPR. Everyone should!! It’s been 3 years and my husband is totally fine now :)