How do you realize the value of a human life? There are many ways really, but for me the true clarity came from my death. Yes, that’s right, I died; five times to be exact. My name is Chris Knight, and because of a miraculous second chance at life, I am taking this opportunity to write an article and share with you my story.
Currently, I am the Vice President of Retail Sales for KVII Television in Amarillo, TX. I have a wife of 29 years (Joyce) and a son of 25 (A.J.). In August of 2008, Joyce and I took a trip to Naperville, Illinois for my nephew’s wedding. We enjoyed a few days of reuniting with family, playing golf, and catching up. On the day of the wedding, we were on our way out of the hotel, and that’s when it happened.
I experienced Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA). My heart completely stopped and I collapsed dead right there in the hotel lobby. Joyce began performing CPR and the 9-1-1 call was placed. Within five minutes, the first responder arrived.
Janie was a Naperville police officer, who, by the grace of God, was just a block or so away from the hotel. However, more importantly was the fact that she was equipped and trained with an automated external defibrillator (AED). The city of Naperville has provided every one of their officers with an AED in their patrol vehicles and it’s because of this, that I was able to have a chance at surviving.
Moments after her services, EMS was on site. I was loaded into the ambulance and while in route to Edward Hospital, I once again fell victim to SCA and again, an AED was used to keep me going.
Upon arrival at Edward, I was taken immediately to surgery where Dr. Mark Duerinck performed the operation. While on the table, Dr. Duerinck installed four stints and two balloons, all the while SCA again occurred on three separate occasions. And again, I was brought back, three more times. The whole process took 56 minutes and was nothing short of a miracle. I was alive.
I had now gone through surgery, was intubated, sedated, and placed on approximately 15 different machines that were keeping me alive. I remained sedated for eight days during which I was cared for by an amazing staff in the ICU at Edward. I was slowly weaned off the machines and made my recovery to approximately 50% of normal over the next 21 days. With many thoughts, prayers, the amazing support of my wife and son, and the aid of the entire medical staff, I was able to return home.
The entire experience drastically changed my life forever. I have quit smoking, I follow a strict diet, and exercise seven days a week. But I think more importantly is the fact that now I have a chance to use this experience to help save other lives.
My staff at KVII in a combined effort with Great Plains AG Credit, Cardiac Science, and the Cardiologist Center of Amarillo has begun a campaign to provide the entire Panhandle of Texas with AEDs. The initial focus is to, like Naperville, properly equip every first responder. We are really pushing this endeavor into the rural areas so that the citizens of these townships and municipalities can actually have a fighting chance to make it to the nearest health care facility. Our goal is to provide 100 new AEDs per year over the next five years.
I firmly believe that this movement will greatly impact the people of the Panhandle for years to come and I hope it encourages you, the reader, to pursue a similar endeavor for your society. Please remember, the value of one human life is immeasurable.
Thanks to all our walkers, donors and volunteers who have accepted the challenge to help fight heart disease and stroke. We cannot achieve our mission without each one of you!
For more information please contact one of your Start! Heart Walk staff partners at 1-806-457-0090 or via email at Shanna.collins@heart.org
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