gotaedSam Wizov
Lower Merion Township, PA
Date of Event: July 10, 2015
I was nine years old and on vacation with my family in rural Virginia. Like all 9 year olds will do, swimming underwater…games of who can hold their breath and swim the furthest, when my father saw me at the bottom of the pool. Not moving. Â My Uncle did CPR for approximately 26 minutes until the paramedics arrived. After being taken to the closest hospital, I was airlifted to VCU in Richmond, VA. where I was placed on life support and in a coma for six days.
While at VCU I was given an S-ICD, a defibrillator and spent 28 days in the hospital. Â I have since had the S-ICD replaced with an ICD and spent an additional 3 weeks at CHOP in Philadelphia, PA.
It has not gone unnoticed by me that an AED played a critical role in my survival. Â Along with my Uncle knowing CPR, I would not be alive today without the use of an AED.
I WAS AND AM ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES.
Diagnosis: Â Long QT Syndrome
Treatment: ICD
