To dub the atmosphere "jovial" at Houston Fire Department Station 82 would do an injustice to the scene. With enthusiastic hugs, fervent slaps on the back, and hearty laughter exchanged all around, the casual outsider would think he or she had inadvertently stepped into a family reunion.
As it turns out, reuniting was high on the agenda. But the event that initially drew them together wasn't quite as light-hearted.
A few months ago, Steve Miller said, "I was just hanging out at a buddy's house, and I just fell over." From what his friends, Keith "Buddha" and Trista Kendall later told him, "My face turned purple." Miller said he had no prior history of heart problems, and he didn't experience any pain leading up to the event. Miller surmises that it might've been a hereditary condition, and says both a parent and grandparent died of a heart attack. "But I ran track in school," Miller shared. "I've always worked out, and I've never had a problem." As a former EMT and owner of a lawn care company, Miller had always considered himself in fairly good shape.
Survivor:
Didn't have any thoughts while this was happening. No pain. Just fell over; didn't know why.
Had a wild dream before it happened, where he can see the bones in his body.
How is life different? Try to be more thankful. You're still the same person, you still get mad, try to kick back a little more if I can. I'm still the same me, but I've tried to mellow.
Very thankful, wouldn't be here without these heroes.
His friends called 9-1-1 and with the assistance of the call taker, they provided CPR until HFD units arrived. HFD crews continued CPR, defibrillated him and provided advanced life support. Fortunately, Miller responded to treatments and his pulse was restored. He was stabilized and transported to a local hospital while receiving hypothermia treatment enroute. Miller was discharged a few weeks later wants to thank everyone who contributed different links in his Chain of Survival*.
Steve Miller said, “I want to shine the light on these guys that saved my life. I am very blessed -- I get to finish raising my boys! I owe my life to these guys. They are true heroes!”
Miller and Susan, his wife of 20 years, are providing dinner at Station 82 for all his rescuers.
*Links in the Chain of Survival for Cardiac Arrest:
Early 9-1-1 access Early CPR Early Defibrillation Early Advanced Life Support
Never heard the word "hero" thrown around so much. Atmosphere of a family reunion. Jovial.
Trista - wife, Keith "Buddha" Kendall (best friend; homeowner where it happened)
Medical Director, Associate Medical Director Dr. Chris Souders
How lucky he is
"There are a lot of things have to happen when someone falls over dead. Your heart electrical signal short-circuited and stopped beating, no blood went to your brain, and you collapsed. And you have less than 10 minutes for someone to do something to save your life.
All of the steps that were supposed to happen came together. Someone obviously recognized that you collapsed and were in need of assistance, and Trista called 911. Buddha was there to assist, and he talked to Jamar (the person that answers the phone)," where he figured out what was going on with a semi-frantic person calling, understand what's going on, figure out where it is, so we can respond, and then give directions in order for them to help you and bridge that gap.
You've gotta keep the blood flowing to the brain for that response time for HFD to get there.
Lots of firefighters came to the scene. In a standard scenario: EMS supervisor, paramedics, ambulance crew, and engine crew, and they all work together to save your life.
Before anyone had even gotten there, he'd already regained a pulse (just engine and supervisor were there). He responded really quickly to the therapy.
Survivor: Didn't feel any pain, came out of left field.
Jamar Burnham - Call taker
Engine crew - Armando DeLeon, Jesse Lowery, John Willpegger?
Duane Owen - Doesn't do any good to freak out; been doing this 9 years. "We don't know what happened to them." These survivor dinners aren't regular; they do their thing, but often don't find out the status of survivors. Survivors must actively seek them out. "Once we make the call, we have to put it away." First survivor he's met.
Jesse Lowery -
Paramedics - Brian Greenberg, Mark Palmer, Darren Ott
Dispatcher - Jennifer Horlich
You said you were unaware that you had any issues. Actually, the majority of cases are what we call 'sudden cardiac arrest.'
Steve Miller presents EMS Supervisor Brian Greenberg with a plaque of appreciation.
Sante's Garden Room is decorated with two olive trees.
Photo by Chris Furia