||| FROM GERI BAKER for ORCAS ONLINE |||
On April 20, 2026 my husband Stu collapsed in his chair (Widow-Maker heart attack. 70% mortality rate) at our office in Eastsound and was without pulse for 25+ minutes. 6 paddles (clear!), 3 EPI jabs & so many compressions, plus 3 stents added by the Cath Lab at Peace Health in Bellingham–he is alive and well! Because God Almighty blessed us! Because our colleague Ron Claus knew/started CPR immediately on the instruction of the 911 operator. Because our First Responders are among the finest in the nation & were here within 4 minutes. 15 of them were on hand, in our office, swapping out every 2 minutes like clockwork, making Stu’s heart beat until it took over again for itself. They did not give up!
I’m told that our First Responders have the highest rate of resuscitation IN THE NATION. We saw you in action and we are not surprised. Heartfelt thanks to our First Responders, the paramedics, the EMTs, the volunteers. We appreciate you! The time you have spent training, your commitment to our Orcas Island Community. You are amazing & words are not enough to express our gratitude. We love you. Hat tip to Mercy Flights for their kind, wonderful pilots.
Nothing matters more than the humans that are here. God works through humanity–we need each other. Life is short. Everyone in our office is on the schedule for first aid and CPR classes because knowledge matters. If you don’t know CPR, today is a great day to learn how to save a life.
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