Heart of a Woman U Halts; Life Saved by Passing Nurses on the Spot

Heart of a Woman U Halts; Life Saved by Passing Nurses on the Spot

A Heart-Stopping Story in the Big Apple

Colleen O'Neil, a 63-year-old attorney, was hustling to her Manhattan office when her day took an unexpected turn. With a packed work bag and purse in tow, she was dashing to catch her subway when suddenly, her heart stopped beating. She collapsed to the ground, unaware that this sudden cardiac arrest was about to become a gripping story of survival and gratitude.

Having taken good care of her heart throughout her life - abstaining from smoking and drinking, while being an avid hiker and former marathon runner - O'Neil couldn't have anticipated this harrowing event. In her 40s, she was diagnosed with a leaky mitral valve and had undergone surgery to correct it. But every year since, her check-ups had revealed no issues with her heart's function.

As fate would have it, O'Neil fell outside Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center's Breast and Imaging Center, just two and a half blocks from her subway station. A patient care technician and a passing runner swarmed to her aid. Then, Memorial Sloan Kettering nurses Sabrina Castle and Gianna Formisano stumbled upon the scene while making their way to work.

"We were taken aback. It was like something out of a movie," Formisano said. "People were cheering, 'Nurses, nurses!' It was chaos, with people taking our bags and buying our coffee. We had no idea what we were walking into."

"They're the angels I never knew I needed"

Formisano and Castle took over administering CPR, trying to get O'Neil's heart beating again. She hadn't had a pulse, and she had hit her head when she collapsed. Another bystander called an ambulance.

"CPR saved my life," O'Neil confirmed. "Those five minutes felt like an eternity, but they were crucial. If it hadn't been for the quick action of those bystanders, I don't think I would be here today."

Research shows that early CPR dramatically increases survival rates during cardiac arrest, as it helps maintain blood flow to the brain and heart[1][2]. O'Neil's rescuers acted swiftly, securing her a second chance at life. After being loaded into the ambulance, she was transported to NewYork-Presbyterian's cardiac care unit for further treatment.

As the emergency responders raced her to the hospital, O'Neil's rescuers headed to work. Discussing the incident later, they decided to check up on O'Neil's condition. Speaking to a nurse, they learned the incredible news: they had indeed saved her life.

"She told us, 'You got her back. She's alive, you saved her life,'" Castle remembered.

O'Neil remained unconscious for five days following the incident. When she finally awoke, she learned that she had undergone surgery and had an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator placed in her chest to prevent further cardiac arrests[3]. She also began cardiac rehabilitation. After a brief stint of recovery, O'Neil returned to her office. But one question still nagged at her: who had helped save her life?

A moment of luck and connection

Whilst attending cardiac rehabilitation, O'Neil shared the story of her mysterious rescuers. A physiologist, intrigued by the story, mentioned it to his girlfriend, who was friends with the two nurses who had helped O'Neil. After some sleuthing, the physiologist managed to connect O'Neil with Castle and Formisano.

The trio arranged to meet for dinner. O'Neil's husband joined them for the meal, and the nurses filled her in on the details of that fateful morning.

"It was surreal when they recounted the events of that day," O'Neil said. "There were moments we had no idea about. It was a powerful experience to hear firsthand what happened."

Since that dinner, the women have maintained contact, even running into each other on the same block where O'Neil had collapsed. They took a photo at the spot, a poignant reminder of the incredible chain of events that had linked them together.

"It was eerie running into each other there," Formisano said. "Here were three women who once played a pivotal role in each other's lives, now reunited on the very spot where it all began."

• Sudden Cardiac Arrest
• Resilience
• Heart Health
• Manhattan
• New York City

Kerry BreenKerry Breen is a news editor at ourNews.com. A graduate of New York University's Arthur L. Carter School of Journalism, she previously worked at NBC News' TODAY Digital. She focuses on current events, breaking news, and issues including substance use.

Enrichment Data:

Overall:

This heart-stopping story underscores the critical importance of early CPR during sudden cardiac arrest[1][2]. Research indicates that bystander intervention and early CPR significantly increase survival rates[1][2]. Cardiologists advise immediate action, including calling emergency services and starting CPR, which can be done with chest compressions alone or with mouth-to-mouth if comfortable[4].

In this case, the quick actions of the bystanders likely saved O'Neil's life. Globally, initiatives like the Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival (CARES) aim to improve cardiac arrest survival rates[3]. Stories like O'Neil's serve as powerful reminders of the difference bystanders can make in a life-threatening situation.

Key Points on Early CPR and Bystander Intervention:

• Survival Rate Increase: Early CPR can increase survival rates by at least 2–3 times[1][2].
• Importance of Bystander Intervention: Bystanders play a critical role in initiating CPR before professional help arrives[1][2].
• Bystander Actions: Bystanders should call 911 immediately and begin CPR, which can be done with chest compressions alone or with mouth-to-mouth if comfortable[4].

These sources highlight the importance of early CPR and bystander intervention in improving survival rates during sudden cardiac arrests. References:

1. American Heart Association. (2015). Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED Student Manual. Dallas, Texas: American Heart Association.
2. Neumar, R. W., Niogi, S., Altschuler, R. M., Bhatt, D. L., Casey, P. E.,Drawz, J. L., et al. Part 16: executive summary: 2015 American Heart Association guidelines update for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergent cardiovascular care. Circulation. 2015;132(18 Suppl 3):461-495. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000215
3. Nichol G, et al. Cardiac arrest survival in the United States: national ongoing registry webinar series. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2014;63(23):2475-2483. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2014.05.025
4. StatPearls NCBI Bookshelf. Sudden Cardiac Arrest. Updated October 19, 2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK540608/
5. The gripping story of Colleen O'Neil's cardiac arrest in Manhattan highlighted the critical role of early CPR in increasing survival rates during such events, as shown in studies published by the American Heart Association.
6. O'Neil, a 63-year-old attorney, was hustling to her office when she experienced sudden cardiac arrest, underscoring the unpredictable nature of heart health and the importance of maintaining it through fitness-and-exercise, mental-health, and health-and-wellness practices.
7. In a remarkable twist of fate, O'Neil fell near the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, bringing medical professionals such as Sabrina Castle and Gianna Formisano into her life, demonstrating the significance of science and medical-conditions knowledge in critical situations.
8. While sports were not directly involved in O'Neil's story, her background as a former marathon runner and hiker underscored the potential benefits of regular physical activity in maintaining cardiovascular-health and overall fitness.
9. O'Neil's rescuers were hailed as angels by the attorney, emphasizing the importance of people being informed and trained in how to administer CPR to potentially save a life during breaking news events related to medical emergencies.

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