Stepping in during an emergency to perform CPR could save a life. According to the American Heart Association, there are more than 357,000 cardiac arrests every year that happen outside of hospitals. One woman was at home when she was able to save her husband’s life with CPR. Faith Terry is a nurse with Crouse Hospital. Two years ago, when her husband collapsed, she jumped into action.

“That night, my son asked me, ‘Mom is dad going to die?’ And I said “Medically, my brain is telling me yes’,” said Terry. She has decades of nursing experience, and two summers ago when her husband’s heart stopped beating, she called 911 and started performing CPR.

“I was in a car accident, so I usually can't even compress that long. But I kept it up for 10 minutes. I wasn't going to let him go,” said Terry. “I think God had a few angels around helping to keep me going so I could keep him going.”

EMTs took over the CPR, and once they got a heartbeat, brought him to the hospital. Tom spent time on a ventilator in the ICU, eventually recovering, and they say there are no lasting effects from the scare.

What You Need To Know

  • According to the American Heart Association there are more than 357,000 cardiac arrests every year that happen outside of hospitals

  • Faith teaches children in first and second grade about the basics of CPR, like recognizing when someone isn’t responding and to call an adult for help

  • Her knowledge of CPR led to saving her husband's life 2 years ago

“Every medical doctor we spoke with said you shouldn't be alive. One even told me if you're alive, your brain should be mush by now,” said Tom Terry.

Tom said he doesn’t remember what happened, or the 10 days following. Now he has a pacemaker and defibrillator.

“Something I never want to experience again. But I'm so thankful I knew CPR that I could save him,” said Faith.

Faith teaches children in first and second grade about the basics of CPR, like recognizing when someone isn’t responding and to call an adult for help.

“You can go home, and you can ask your parents, ‘Do you know how to do CPR? We learned about it today at the Hospital-Land class, and it's important that everybody knows it because we only have maybe four minutes to save somebody’,” said Faith Terry.

The American Heart Association says only 10% of people with cardiac arrest outside of a hospital survive.

“We've been together 50, almost 54 years, and this happened two years ago. So, it doesn't matter what happens from here on. She gave me two more years with her. You can't ask for anything more than that,” said Tom. “I'm just thankful, love her.”

Tom says he’s now planning to sign up for a CPR class himself. The American Heart Association says almost three quarters of cardiac arrests that happen outside of the hospital happen at home.