First Published August 16, 2023
A wife’s quick action turned tragedy into triumph – and it could happen to you too.
Cardiac arrest survivor Dave Ogle (left) with his wife, Kris Patrow. (Photo courtesy of Dave Ogle)
When Every Second Counts
Picture this: You’re relaxing at home after a long trip, settling in to watch your favorite show with your spouse. In an instant, everything changes. Your partner makes a strange sound, their eyes go blank, and they stop breathing entirely.
This exact scenario happened to Kris Patrow and her husband Dave Ogle in their Woodbury, Minnesota home. Dave, a healthy 53-year-old, suddenly went into cardiac arrest while watching TV. His heart simply stopped beating.
What happened next saved his life.
The Training That Made All the Difference
Less than a year before that terrifying evening, Kris had taken a CPR class at work. She probably never imagined she’d need to use those skills on someone she loved. But when the moment came, her training kicked in automatically.
She didn’t panic. She didn’t freeze. She acted.
Kris immediately rolled Dave off the couch, called 911, and began chest compressions. For nearly 10 minutes – until paramedics arrived – she kept his blood flowing and his brain alive through CPR.
The Reality of Cardiac Arrest
Here’s what many people don’t realize: cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time. It doesn’t discriminate by age, fitness level, or health status. Dave had no obvious risk factors, yet his heart stopped without warning.
When someone goes into cardiac arrest:
- Their survival depends entirely on immediate action
- Brain damage can begin within 4-6 minutes without oxygen
- Every minute without CPR reduces survival chances by 7-10%
- Bystander CPR can double or triple survival rates
A Love Story with a Happy Ending
Thanks to Kris’s quick thinking and CPR training, Dave’s story has a remarkable ending. After weeks in a coma and months of rehabilitation, he not only survived but recovered completely. Today, he’s living a full life – working, traveling to Europe with Kris, and appreciating every moment in ways he never did before.
“Life is short,” Dave says now. “What am I afraid of?”
But this happy ending almost didn’t happen. If Kris hadn’t known CPR, if she had panicked, if she had waited for help to arrive – the outcome would likely have been very different.
Your Moment Could Come Tomorrow
The person who needs CPR might be:
- Your spouse or partner
- Your parent or grandparent
- Your child
- A coworker
- A stranger at the grocery store
- Anyone, anywhere
The question isn’t whether you’ll ever encounter a cardiac emergency. The question is: Will you be ready when it happens?
Take Action Today
CPR training is:
- Accessible – Classes are offered at community centers, hospitals, workplaces, and online
- Quick – Basic certification takes just a few hours
- Affordable – Many employers offer free training
- Simple – You don’t need medical experience
- Powerful – You can literally save a life
Dave and Kris are now writing a book about their experience because they believe everyone should know CPR. They’ve seen firsthand how this simple skill can mean the difference between life and death, between tragedy and miracle.
Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late
Somewhere right now, someone is having a cardiac arrest. Someone’s spouse, parent, or child needs immediate help. In many cases, trained bystanders are making the difference between survival and loss.
You could be that person who makes the difference.
The American Heart Association, Red Cross, and many local organizations offer CPR classes regularly. Some take just a few hours on a weekend. Others can be completed online with hands-on practice.
Your Family Needs You to Be Prepared
Imagine if you were in Kris’s situation. Imagine watching someone you love collapse, knowing that their life depends entirely on what you do in the next few minutes.
Would you know what to do? Would your training kick in? Or would you be left feeling helpless, wishing you had prepared for this moment?
Don’t leave it to chance. Don’t assume someone else will know what to do. Don’t think it won’t happen to you.
Learn CPR. Today.
Because when someone you love needs you most, you’ll be ready to give them the greatest gift possible: their life.
Learn more about CPR training now. In-Pulse CPR offers onsite training to the public and businesses.
Author: Donna Ryan lives and works in Tucson, AZ
