A few weeks ago, George Thomas was at the park playing with his grandchildren. Not that unusual for a 71-year-old man on a beautiful summer afternoon … but a miracle given that back in January, doctors were talking with his family about ending life support after he’d suffered a massive heart attack.
One major factor that led to his not only surviving, but being able to come back to full health, is that his heart attack happened at the North Oakland YMCA. Y staffers Sam David, Regina Eaton, Lee Gulu and Jennifer Moloney performed CPR on George to keep him breathing and his heart beating until paramedics could get there. They also started his heart with the on-site AED. Had that not happened, it’s unlikely Thomas, who flatlined once in the ambulance and also at the hospital, would have survived.
“If it wasn’t for the people at the Y he would not be here today,” says Darlene Thomas, George’s wife.
George himself says he credits the Y with his life.
“I think they saved my life,” he says. “They did such good work, everybody there that took care of me.”
Chris King, executive director of the North Oakland Family YMCA, says every staff member at the Y, not just those who work in the Wellness Center or the pool, are all CPR certified. They do frequent drills to be ready for just such a situation as happened with George Thomas.
“I’m proud of our team, that they did everything they could have done and did it all right,” Chris says.
He pointed out that George was in excellent shape and worked out at the Y frequently, which contributed to his recovery.
“We’re all thrilled that he is doing well and functioning,” Chris says. “A lot of it is attributable to him and his condition.”
Darlene Thomas says the 10 days George was unconscious in the hospital were a cycle of hope and despair. Finally, the doctors told her and her family that they did not believe there was any hope of recovery, and that they should consider taking him off life support. The family gathered to begin planning his funeral, when one of the doctors suggested a last-ditch attempt to bring him out of the coma by cooling his body down to well below normal temperature. It worked — he woke up shortly thereafter and soon was off all the medications. He was discharged to home care with visiting nurses, and rather than being bedridden as they were anticipating, he would greet them at the door. Darlene says after just three weeks, they said he was doing so well they discharged him.
“I always felt he was going to be OK,” she says. “I never felt that I was going to bury my husband of 48 years.”
His family held a celebration of life for George at the North Oakland Y to thank all the people who helped him recover. He hasn’t been back to work out quite yet –but he’s been cleared to run a marathon in 2015.
