This morning my sister Kate went to her husband's grandfather's funeral. It was already a pretty sad, emotional day for the family as the grandfather had told them, more or less, "I'm comin' Elizabeth" and meant it. This weekend he instructed his family to get the get his good suit from the cleaners. He died Sunday night.
On the walk back from the graveside ceremony, my sister noticed a cell phone on the ground. Turns out, it belonged to the priest who officiated the funeral - who had dropped to the ground of a heart attack. The phone must have flown out of his pocket. But she didn't know this.
She heard someone call out if there was a medical professional anyone knew CPR, and her being a trained nurse she ran over (as she tells it, "I think I scaled a stone wall in heels") and proceeded to give him old fashioned mouth to mouth. When the ambulance arrived, he was breathing and to the best of her knowledge, still very much alive.
Edited to add:
Aw crap, I forgot the best part (well, I suppose the priest not dying is the "best part" but whatever. )
My sister later called my grandmother to tell her the story. She asked her, "so you think I get a pass into heaven now , I mean I saved a PRIEST on SACRED GROUND." Man, she always has the best luck. What - was it not enough for her that she got to be the "pretty sister"?
I can't imagine what it must be like to be a nurse or doctor and hear someone call out for help like that.
Although your sister probably doesn't think of herself that way, she is a hero. She deserves congratulations.
Posted by: Elizabeth | October 20, 2005 at 07:21 PM
holy shit. Or holy spit.
Posted by: Dawn | October 21, 2005 at 09:18 AM
just want to edit story a bit... not sure where you got the cell phone piece, but did not happen. i was in the car and Dan said someone fell (thought it was Nana), then heard the dreaded "does anyone know CPR". His aunt and I get there and the rest is as you wrote it. I believe I hurdled a few gravestones...in heels! Saw the priest last night and definitely looked much better than when I left him. So, hats off to Ella as well. He was talking when he got to the ER. Everyone get CPR certified it might really save someone's life one day!
Posted by: kate | October 21, 2005 at 10:40 AM
Huh, I could have sworn you said that but I guess that's what happens when you call me at work and people are talking to me when I am trying to talk to you a the same time.
I also like the part where you elbowed 70 yr old Aunt Mary out of the way. hee.
Posted by: Once More | October 21, 2005 at 11:11 AM