A Knock On the Door

We have been in Anchorage since Sunday. On Monday Spike did a guided tour of the city for the group. We took four vans and I got elected to drive one. I explained my driving history with police cars but they still let me drive. My group had a couple of backseat drivers and if I'd had a metal screen (like in a patrol unit) behind me some of my passengers would have got the old screen test. Or as my Delray Beach PD brother Glen said just ask them if they ever wanted to be in the movies.

Anchorage is the biggest city in Alaska with a population of over 300,000. As with any big city they have traffic and all the things any big American city has. Like big hospitals. Which brings me to last night.

Last night we had a potluck. Hugh from San Diego organized it. Hugh's son is a San Diego PD officer so we have discussed our son's career choice. His son is also a renter like ours in their home in San Diego. Hugh retired for Sysco Food Services and now fulltimes with his wife Judy. He likes to tell jokes and is always smiling. Prior to the potluck he shared his secret recipe for San Diego salsa. It was good but HOT! 

Maria made chili verde which was a big hit. Lots of good food and laughs. Us cops were the last to leave as we had to finish a great boxed wine. All cops are cheap.

A knock on the door. 

Maria and I had been inside the coach for maybe 10 minutes when Cheryl (Delray PD Bill's better half) knocked and said Hugh was down in the street possibly a heart attack. It's still interesting how your training takes over. I went out the door no shoes on into the gravel. Patty who was a records supervisor at Delray PD  (& Delray PD Glens better half) had seen Hugh go down. She ran to Spikes coach to get the AED and then got Glen. Hugh was not breathing so Glen applied the AED and started it. Louise another tour member started CPR. I got there when the AED was analyzing. No shock at first so I took over CPR. Hugh is a big man so I was able to do the compressions much easier than Louise. Lyndy (Spikes better half) was on the phone with the 911 dispatcher and repeated everything she said in a calm clear voice. The AED cycled again and analyzed advising a shook. Thank god Glen told me to get my knee away from Hugh before the shock. 

We kept the AED/CPR going and Hugh came back after the second shock. We lost him again and we kept the process up till the fire department arrived. I can say I was never so happy to see our brothers from the FD. They sent 3 trucks and a PD unit at least 10 personnel. They did their magic and got Hugh back again.

He was transported code 3 to the trauma hospital just 6 blocks away. We cops hoped for the best but we have seen the look before. 

Well god was at Hugh's side and as of this morning he's in CCU but talking and breathing on his own. His wife said he keeps asking why his chest is so sore (sorry about those ribs Hugh) and is having short term memory issues but his heart is fine. It appears to be an Afib issue but more test tommorrow. The AED probably saved him.

It was a true team effort by everyone involved. Thank God we were all in a position to help Hugh live another day to be a husband and father to his family.

Update: This evening Hugh's wife Judy reported that after testing Hugh has no heart damage and no heart disease. He is having a pacemaker/defibrillator installed to insure the Afib doesn't happen again and might be out of the hospital by Saturday. UNBELIEVABLE. He is truly one lucky man.