From December 2005 to April 2009, Take Heart St. Cloud has had 97 saves, i.e. survivors of sudden cardiac arrest. Here are the stories of some
of our survivors:

Robert Kempenich - Little Falls

Robert is the manager of the SA located on Highway10 in Saint Cloud and on Dec. 5, 2005 at the age of 52, he experienced a cardiac arrest. He had been shoveling snow and scraping ice away from the gasoline dispensers. Robert went inside to warm up and collapsed. The employees called 911 and two customers in the store immediately came over and started CPR. Police officers, Kean Raygor and Mandi Provo, were in the neighborhood at the time of the call and arrived within five minutes. The police officers began to perform the CPR and gave two shocks from an AED. The ambulance arrived approximately five minutes later; paramedics also shocked twice on the way to the Saint Cloud hospital. At the hospital, Robert’s body temperature was lowered to 92 degrees for 24 hours. He had an ICD implanted one week later and was released from the hospital one week after that.

Robert is back at work – full time. He and his wife Mary have returned to their regular routines with one exception. They now actively participate in CPR educational activities and pursue funding to place defibrillators in the cars of Little Falls Police officers.

Michael Hengel - St. Cloud

Michael Hengel is shown here experiencing his first ICD check one week after placement.

Michael was delivering a shipment to Columbia Gear in Avon, MN on December 28, 2006 when he suddenly fell to the ground. Shipping staff called 911 and paged George Brix, a Columbia Gear employee, retired Avon Fire Fighter and EMT. George recognized what was happening and began CPR immediately.

Avon Fire arrived on sight in fewer than five minutes time. They administered shocks using a defibrillator (AED) purchased by Columbia Gear two years ago at the request of the Avon Police Chief. The AED is carried by Avon Fire and transported to all medical emergencies. They shocked Michael a total of six times in the field; Gold Cross arrived and transported Michael to the St. Cloud hospital and the Central Minnesota Heart Center.

Michael was immediately admitted to the Cardiac Care Unit and was placed in therapeutic hypothermia using the Artic Sun cooling device. When he awoke he was immediately alert and ready to “go up north to recover”.
Michael went on to have open heart surgery where various heart concerns were corrected. Several days later, an implanted cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) was placed in Michael’s chest to act as his personal EMT.

On January 16 Michael was discharged to his home for rest and recovery.
Michael’s family stayed by his side for the duration of these three weeks and supported each other with humor and patience.
Thank you to all who participated in saving Michael’s life. Because of your care and help he is looking forward to a spring and summer of “time up north”.

Roger Feyo - Fifty Lakes, MN

Roger with wife Pat and daughter Terri.

Roger has always wanted to leave the cities and go where his heart really is....to the Northwoods. Roger and his family took that trek and moved to the family hunting cabin near Crosslake in the small town of Fifty Lakes. He LOVES to hunt and both his children follow in his foot steps with that same love. That love almost changed on August 22nd 2008 when Roger, age 68, and his wife, Pat, sat on the cabins porch and he got up to feed the cats. A ritual he has done every morning. He bent down to scoop cat food out of the bag when he looked over towards Pat because she was speaking to him. That is when he collapsed in front of her. Pat yelled for her daughter, Terri, who was still sleeping at the time. Terri came out to find Roger unresponsive and making snoring noises. It was when Roger quit breathing and started to turn blue that Terri jumped into action. She told Pat to call 911 and started moving Roger to his back. At the same time Roger and Pat’s son, Tom, ran out to help. Terri started to do compressions and Tom helped by keeping the airway open. Terri and Tom did not quit until EMS and First Responders arrived and took over.

Roger was flown to the Central Minnesota Heart Center at St. Cloud Hospital where he was evaluated, cooled and had an ICD implanted. Two weeks later he was home and planning the 2008 Deer Hunt which he indeed went out and did. Harvested a nice doe, too!

To date Roger is doing well and stays on track to live a healthier, more active life. The whole family has vowed to change their lifestyles to a much healthier one as well. Because of the incident that affected their lives, Terri has since received her certificate to become a CPR Instructor and is creating her own CPR Business. She intends to get the message out there about the importance of getting trained in CPR; she certainly can speak from her heart about this.

Dawn Blake- Andover

32 years old at time of cardiac arrest (2006)

Dawn is a 36 year old mother of two from Andover, MN. Two days before her 33rd birthday, Dawn came home from work, ate dinner and went to bed as if it were any other day. Around midnight that night she woke up with an uncomfortable back pain and had trouble falling back asleep. She told her husband, Mike, that she was going to go downstairs and lie on the couch because she was not feeling well. About 20 minutes later, Mike heard a noise and came downstairs to investigate. He approached her to ask about the noise and found her unresponsive. Dawn had gone into cardiac arrest. Mike, who is an EMT, administered CPR and called 911. Within 3 minutes the Sheriff’s Department shocked Dawn’s heart with an AED. About 2 minutes later the paramedics arrived and continued CPR with the ResQPOD for about 35 minutes, and shocked her heart a total of five times. Dawn was then stabilized and brought to the hospital. Mike Blake, being a seasoned EMT, did not expect Dawn to wake up; however, as he was coming down the hall of the ICU he heard Dawn talking to her mother and could not believe it.

Today Dawn is doing great and she looks forward to the opportunity of watching her children grow up.

Age 50, experienced a sudden cardiac arrest on March 27, 2007.

Kat was at home, with her adult daughter and sister - Willamay, watching television and getting ready for bed. Willamay noticed that Kat was not responding to conversation and had stopped breathing. Willamay immediately began chest compressions when Kat’s daughter began giving breaths. After two minutes they called 911 and then continued with CPR.

St. Cloud Fire and Police arrived shortly after being called and began CPR using the ResQPOD and shocked Kat using an AED. Gold Cross responded and assumed resuscitation efforts.

Kat was transferred to the St. Cloud Hospital where she was assessed for the Induced Hypothermia protocol. She was moved quickly to the Cardiac Care Unit where she was cooled; she was talking on the phone with friends shortly after warming.

Kat has returned to her delightful and lively self. Her family, children and grandchildren are grateful for her full recovery and return to their busy lives.

When asked where Willamay and her niece learned CPR they responded, “On ER.”

Clarence experienced sudden cardiac arrest on January 20, 2008. Clarence had not been feeling well that day and shortly after going downstairs he collapsed to the ground. Linda heard a thud in the basement and went to check on Clarence. She found him unresponsive on the ground. Linda immediately called 911 but due to Clarence’s position on the floor she was unable to perform CPR.

When Waite Park Police arrived they immediately began CPR and applied an AED. The AED indicated that Clarence was in ventricular fibrillation and advised a shock. Clarence was shocked five times before regaining a rhythm.

Gold Cross arrived and transported Clarence to the St. Cloud Hospital and Central MN Heart Center where he was evaluated, cooled and received and ICD. Clarence spent a few days in the In Patient Rehab Center and on February 26th was discharged to his home.

Clarence continues to enjoy his daily activities and is looking forward to getting outside this spring.

Heather Weimer - Backus

Heather is now back at home, raising her children and feeling great.

Brett Johnson, 43 years old, experienced his sudden cardiac arrest on July 21, 2007

Brett had just completed his stock car race at the Brainerd Speedway and was walking up the bleachers from the track. He suddenly collapsed and stopped breathing. Quick acting bystanders began administering CPR while North Memorial Ambulance (who was present at the track) was notified of the emergency.

Brett was shocked using an AED and transferred to the Brainerd Hospital where he was shocked again. He was flown to the St. Cloud Hospital to be “cooled” using the Induced Hypothermia protocol.

After warming and a few days of recovery Brett underwent double bypass surgery. A few days later he received and ICD. Brett has returned to his wife, Monica, and their two children.

Next year Brett’s son anticipates beginning to compete as a stock car driver; Brett is looking forward to supporting him in the pit.

JoAnn Schrader - St. Cloud

Experienced SCA on Feb 7, 2007

Shortly after waking early on the morning of Feb. 7th JoAnn told her husband Frank that she loved him. He told her he loved her too. After leaving JoAnn in bed and leaving the room he began hearing a very strange noise from the bedroom. When he went to find the source of the noise he discovered it was coming from JoAnn. Her heart had stopped and he was hearing JoAnn’s agonal breaths.

Frank quickly contacted 911 and he was coached to begin CPR; even though Frank had no experience with CPR the 911 dispatcher was confident she could talk him through the process. Just as Frank opened JoAnn’s airway the St. Cloud Police and St. Cloud Fire arrived on the scene. They quickly began to resuscitate JoAnn. As they performed CPR the defibrillator indicated no shock; JoAnn’s heart rhythm was not shockable.

Gold Cross arrived and transported JoAnn to the St. Cloud Hospital where JoAnn‘s heart stopped two more times. It was clear that the stitches from the aortic valve replacement JoAnn had a week prior was ruptured and she was bleeding internally and her heart could not pump properly. Through consults with the Central MN Heart Center cardiologists it was decided to take JoAnn into surgery to repair the tear and then to cool her with the Artic Sun.
Today JoAnn is back to her old bubbly self. She has completed physical therapy and is beginning cardiac rehab with Frank by her side cheering her on!

Rosie Hall experienced cardiac arrest due to a respiratory arrest on 8/29/07.

Rosie, pictured above with her husband Tom, daughter Jane and grandson Darren, experienced a cardiac arrest triggered by a respiratory arrest on 8/29/07. Rosie was under going a pain management procedure when the anesthesia resulted in her breathing to stop which then resulted in a cardiac arrest.

The medical staff performing the procedure immediately contacted Gold Cross, began CPR and shocked her using a defibrillator. Rosie was transported to the St. Cloud Hospital where she was evaluated for the Induced Hypothermia protocol. She was cooled and began to open her eyes even before the warming process was complete.

Rosie is eager to return to her family and friends. They are all eager to have her back and involved in their day-to-day activities.

Michael Clark - Willmar

Michael Clark – Survivor, Brad Hanson – Mgr Willmar Ambulance, Michael’s wife Bonnie.

On February 25, 2008 Michael was driving through Willmar when he suddenly lost consciousness. His passenger, Chris, noticed that the car ran a stop sign and drove directly across a highway. He realized that Michael was not breathing and got the car to the side of the road. Chris drove - quickly - two blocks to the Law Enforcement Center. Both the Kandiyohi Sheriff and the Willmar Chief of Police were in the parking lot when Chris arrived; they began CPR immediately until the Willmar Ambulance crew arrived.

Brad Hanson was on scene and recognized that Michael would very likely be transported to the St. Cloud Hospital and Central MN Heart Center for cooling. Michael was very cold due to the February weather and Brad requested permission to intentionally maintain Michael’s low body temperature. Permission was granted and ice bags were placed appropriately. Arrangements were made to transport Michael to St. Cloud.

Due to inclement weather Michael was taken by ground and arrived at the St. Cloud Hospital about an hour later. He was taken immediately to the Cath Lab and then to the CCU for cooling.

Michael was discharged from the St. Cloud Hospital and Central MN Heart Center on March 4, 2008. On March 27th he and his wife Janis attended the THSC SCA Survivor’s Network meeting where they had the opportunity to meet Brad Hanson.