Another day at the office – thanks to an AED

By 91ÊÓƵ News

Cardiac arrest survivor John Lewis.
On National Wear Red Day last year, John Lewis's heart stopped while he was at work. (Photo courtesy of John Lewis)

On National Wear Red Day in 2018, few people at the Nashville law firm Lewis, Thomason, King, Krieg & Waldrop took notice of the occasion, which calls attention to heart disease being the No. 1 killer of women.

"I think we had forgotten about it being that day," said Tania Freeman, the firm's business development officer.

Still, Feb. 2, 2018, turned out to be a day many of them would never forget, especially Tania and John Lewis.

A 70-year-old partner in the firm, John came to work thinking not about hearts, but about flu season. He'd been achy and congested all week and his wife, Barbara, was home with the flu and a 102-degree fever.

He headed home early, promising colleagues he would go to the doctor. While waiting for the elevator to take him down from the 25th floor, he stopped to talk with two colleagues, including his son.

Then his heart stopped.

Tania was in her office when a colleague said John passed out in the lobby. Tania grabbed her cellphone and went to assess the situation, thinking she would call 911 if needed. She arrived on the scene to find staff members Ellen Black, Christin Bryant and Tasra Lumpkin performing CPR. Someone had already called 911.

Someone else retrieved the office's AED and brought it to John's side. Tania noticed it wasn't being used yet, so she turned it on, just in case.

John was in cardiac arrest, which essentially means his heart's power went out.

Christin and Tasra took turns performing CPR. Tania put the AED pads on John and everyone backed away. She followed the AED prompts and pushed the shock button.

The shock didn't work.

They resumed giving CPR until the machine said it was OK to try again. Tania did.

Soon after, John reached up and grabbed her hand. He started talking and tried to stand up. Everyone was surprised, especially the paramedics who arrived soon after.

In addition to the cardiac arrest, John suffered a heart attack – one so severe it's called the "widow maker." The difference is that a cardiac arrest is a glitch in the heart's electrical system, while the heart attack is more like a plumbing problem. Something is blocked. In this case, it was the left anterior descending artery, a major pathway supplying blood to the heart.

John was rushed to the hospital. Within 26 minutes of the paramedics arriving at the office, John received two stents to prop open narrowed pathways in his heart.

"If we did not have that AED, this story probably would have a different ending," Tania said.

The AED was purchased years earlier, after another lawyer's life was saved by CPR, albeit away from the office.

Twelve people were trained in CPR and AED usage – attorneys, secretaries, paralegals and administrative staff – so that at least one trained person would likely be in the office in case of emergency.

John's cardiac event was the first in that office building. Building management responded by adding AEDs on every floor and in their own office. They also offered training to the 1,000 office workers. More than half the staff of John's law firm attended.

John returned to work three weeks later, with news cameras greeting him at the door.

"I'm very thankful for what everyone did for me," he said.

Cardiac arrest survivor John Lewis with his rescuers.
Cardiac arrest survivor John Lewis (far right) honors his rescuers. (Photo courtesy of John Lewis)

He's spoken to many of his clients about the experience, encouraging them to get AEDs and to train their staff. Tania, Christin and Tasra were awarded the 91ÊÓƵ's Heartsaver Hero Award.

The law firm staff didn't want to wait for the next . Weeks after the office drama, staff members took it upon themselves to organize their own.

And on Feb. 1, they'll again wear red, in honor of all women and in celebration of the first anniversary of John's life being saved.

Stories From the Heart chronicles the inspiring journeys of heart disease and stroke survivors, caregivers and advocates.

If you have questions or comments about this story, please email [email protected].



91ÊÓƵ News Stories

91ÊÓƵ News covers heart disease, stroke and related health issues. Not all views expressed in 91ÊÓƵ News stories reflect the official position of the 91ÊÓƵ. Statements, conclusions, accuracy and reliability of studies published in 91ÊÓƵ scientific journals or presented at 91ÊÓƵ scientific meetings are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the 91ÊÓƵ’s official guidance, policies or positions.

Copyright is owned or held by the 91ÊÓƵ, Inc., and all rights are reserved. Permission is granted, at no cost and without need for further request, for individuals, media outlets, and non-commercial education and awareness efforts to link to, quote, excerpt from or reprint these stories in any medium as long as no text is altered and proper attribution is made to 91ÊÓƵ News.

Other uses, including educational products or services sold for profit, must comply with the 91ÊÓƵ’s Copyright Permission Guidelines. See full terms of use. These stories may not be used to promote or endorse a commercial product or service.

HEALTH CARE DISCLAIMER: This site and its services do not constitute the practice of medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always talk to your health care provider for diagnosis and treatment, including your specific medical needs. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem or condition, please contact a qualified health care professional immediately. If you are in the United States and experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or call for emergency medical help immediately.