How To Save A Life

The other weekend I was in California with my husband to celebrate his 45th birthday.  We went to the Tom Petty concert at The Hollywood Bowl and then enjoyed a delectable dessert at Patisserie, a whimsical dessert place in Beverly Hills.  My taste buds danced the samba when I sampled the hot chocolate mousse with pear sorbet and salty hazelnut praline.

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The next afternoon while Dave was on business calls, I luxuriated at the pool of the lovely hotel where we were staying.  Actually, I was reading the Bible, since I had committed to a “Read the Bible in 90 Days” program with the women’s Bible Study group at my church.  I confess that I was and still am many pages behind.  Suddenly, I was distracted by gasps and cries of “Help!” I glanced up and saw a hotel employee jump into the pool and pull up a lifeless young boy in his hands.  A frantic father screamed “Does anyone know CPR?”  I looked around, and no one responded.  Of all of the many people at the pool, no one knew how to save a life.  Except for one gentleman who happened to be at the fitness center working out.  He rushed to the side of the young boy and performed CPR.  Someone called 911 while another woman calmed the young friend of the lifeless boy.  All I could do was pray.  And during those very tense moments, I prayed without ceasing.  The miracle is that the young boy soon coughed and awoke.  The medics arrived and rushed him to the hospital.  It was his birthday.  I later learned that he was quickly released from the emergency room and recovered immediately.  An incredible answer to prayer.

Here is the interesting post script.  I approached the gentleman who had performed CPR and thanked him for taking the time to learn how to perform CPR so he could save this young boy’s life.  I said “You were meant to be here today.”  I shared that all I could do was pray for him and the child.  This “good Samaritan” was still shaking.  “May I please hug you?” he asked. “I’m just still so shaken up.”  I shared a brief hug with a stranger.  Then, in the ladies’ room, I saw the woman who had comforted the young friend of the boy. 

“Thank you for doing what you did,” I said.  “All I could do was sit there and pray.”  The young mom was shaking, too.  “I think prayer had a lot to do with him being okay.  All that I can think about right now is that I have a two year old daughter, and I don’t know CPR. As soon as I return home, I’m signing up for a class.”  I commented that she was meant to be where she was today.  This young mom asked if she could hug me, and we both acknowledged that this whole miraculous experience was a reminder of God’s presence.  Although I will never see these people again, we will always share a unique and uniting experience. 

You, too, can learn how to “save a life”.  Here is a link to the Red Cross with information about how and where to learn CPR. Questions to ponder:  Have you ever performed CPR? Have you ever witnessed this life giving act?

Labels: cpr, faith, prayer

posted by Margaret McSweeney @ 7:06 AM