Shock of a Lifetime: Surviving SCAD, Cardiac Arrest, CPR, and Stroke
By Beth Alley
I am a 39-year-old female, and I never would have imagined that I would suffer a cardiac arrest. Oct. 9, 2022, was a pretty normal Sunday. I ate breakfast with my family and watched the New York Giants London game on TV. Then took my youngest and her friend shopping at the mall for their first homecoming.
I was just standing in a store looking at shoes when it happened. I had a tear in the main artery that pumps the blood out to my body; blood pooled in the tear, causing my artery to be shut off. This is called a spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD). I don’t know if I had any symptoms as I lack total memory of this day. From reading medical reports and hearing stories from family members, I went into cardiac arrest.
A bystander in the store thankfully knew what to do. She jumped into action and administered CPR. I wish I knew who the lady was so I could thank her, but I do give thanks to the good Lord that she was placed in my path. I never would have thought that I would be getting CPR from a complete stranger.
About this time, my 15-year-old called my cell phone to see if she could get something from another store. The bystander informed her that I had passed out and she needed to come quick. EMTs were luckily on site and they took over giving me CPR. They had to shock me back -- a total of six minutes. They did an amazing job.
I’m not sure when the exact point was that I experienced a stroke. I’d fallen and hit the right side of my head, which still hasn’t fully recovered. My 17-year-old got to the hospital first that day and had to be the one to assist the doctors with all their millions of questions.
It was a tough week. They kept me on ice for a few days to allow my brain to relax. Meanwhile, I suffered from sepsis shock while I was on life support. For two days, my family had no idea if I was going to make it. My children had no idea if they were going to have a mother anymore. The first time I remember being awake was Thursday. By Friday I was on my way home with a walker and a few prescriptions.
I think the scary thing for me is not remember what it felt like. How will I recognize what the next one will feel like? But I’m still here and life goes on. On Nov. 19, I got married to the man who sat next to me in the hospital, praying to God to bring me home to him and my girls.
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For more information on this health topic, visit stroke.org.
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