Cardiac Arrest Survivor Expresses Gratitude to Emergency Responders

A woman who experienced a cardiac arrest recently met with the emergency service personnel responsible for her treatment to express her gratitude. Wendy Mayne, a 62-year-old nurse practitioner residing in Wokingham, developed chest pains and began feeling unwell shortly after her return in March from a family vacation in Tenerife. Personnel from the South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) and Southern Medical Rescue (SMR) performed resuscitation efforts, successfully stabilizing her condition. Ms Mayne stated that without the assistance of “the amazing people” who aided her that evening, she and her husband “wouldn’t have so much more to look forward to in life.” On the evening of 23 March, her husband, Dave, contacted 999 when his wife initially experienced discomfort due to chest pains. Paramedic Caitlyn Blackmore and emergency care assistant Sam Raison responded to the call, commencing an assessment of Ms Mayne, whose health quickly worsened, leading to a cardiac arrest. The team received support from Southern Medical Rescue ambulance personnel Craig Sheppard, Kieran Cross, and Kirsty Bayley. Both groups performed resuscitation and delivered two shocks before she was transported to the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading. Ms Mayne remained in the intensive care unit for 10 days, followed by an additional nine days in the hospital’s cardiac care unit prior to her discharge. She expressed a desire to reunite with the team, both to convey her appreciation and to inquire about the events and the medical care she received. “None of the tests I’ve had at hospital have been able to find a reason for what happened to me,” Ms Mayne stated. She added, “It’s scary to think that one moment you’re enjoying a lovely holiday with your family and 48 hours later, with no warning, you’re fighting for your life.” She noted that reconnecting with the team significantly aided both her and her husband in processing the experience, and she conveyed that she “feels a sense of turning a corner.”