Not a good day here

[Rocky Raab]

Mid-afternoon today, my neighbor's 11-yr old daughter rang my bell, hysterical. She managed to blurt something about her Mom not breathing and being purple. Naturally, I flew out and over there. My other neighbor Heather was already there, on the 911 line.

I found Francine downstairs, no respiration, no pulse and cool. Lividity already present. No need to even try CPR. She was only about 40.

Her husband was on a business trip, in the air at the time and it took several hours before he landed at an intermediate stop to be notified. Worse, it was their son and daughter who arrived home from school and found their Mom.

Darren the husband just got home. I don't know how he managed that last flight here. He was extremely brave when he walked in and saw his kids, but he'll be a wreck tomorrow. Who wouldn't be?

[Skinny Shooter]

I've seen and been a part of too many of those situations over the years... :(

[Dan Morris]

My thoughts and prayers are with them................dang.
Dan

[Steverino]

My condolences and prayers are with you and your neighbor Rocky. I have never had this happen to me personally and hope to God that I never do.

[LoneWolf]

Worst nightmare I could ever imagine. My thoughts and prayers are with you and the family Rocky.

[buckhunter]

to be blunt, that sucks.

[Rocky Raab]

I thought of you as an EMT immediately, Allen.

As I ran next door, I was mentally reviewing (at light speed) the procedures for the Heimlich (I hoped) and CPR (I hoped not) - neither of which I had been trained on for over 30 years.

I was actually relieved in an odd way that I would need neither. What I most dreaded was needing one or the other and screwing it up.

I think a refresher course is definitely in order; if you folks reading this learn anything from my experience, you will do the same.

[Skinny Shooter]

It is such a shame for those kids and husband. :(

American Heart offers a two year certification on CPR and its highly recommended. I have used the heimlich maneuver and it definitely works.

Allen

[fabsroman]

I second Buckhunter, in that this news sucks. I thought this was going to be another economy post, but this post is about stuff that truly sucks. I try not to think about this stuff happening to my wife.

[Duffy]

I'm very sorry to hear that. I can't imagine how I would feel if I were in the same situation. My prayers for that man and his children.

[Rocky Raab]

I did learn something very important from this.

The police couldn't find a telephone number for where Darren worked. They looked in all the lists, on several cell phones and through drawers. Nothing. None of us there knew the name of his company, only what he did.

He wasn't answering his own cell phone because he happened to be on an airplane at the time. In short, they had a bad time finding any family members, finally calling every number on the cell phones until they got a relative.

Afterwards, one of them gave me a great tip, which I'll pass along here.

Go through your cell phone contact list, and in front or behind every name who should be called, place the letters ICE.

The responders know that stands for In Case of Emergency.

I'd add that if you are going out of town, to leave a list of places and numbers where you'll be on what dates, plus your own cell number.

And tuck one of your own business cards in the family phone book, too!

[Nulle]

Been there and it is always very sad to say the least. You feel so helpless and there is little you can say to make things better.

[Mil Dot]

Wow, what a trauma for the kids ... my thoughts are with the family.

[reb8600]

I feel for the kids. They shouldnt have to come home to find something like that. I hope I never have to do CPR but have had my certification for 4 years now. I was going to do search and rescue. I did have to do the Heimlich once on my daughter when she had a penny stuck in her throat. I almost didnt get it before she passed out.

[Rapier]

Sometimes you really wonder about this life we all live. It can be pretty tough on the players in the game. Sometimes the dose of tears seems all out of proportion to the amount of laughter.
Best,
Ed

[Valigator]

Thats a tough one ..I am sorry you have to carry that with you....

[Rocky Raab]

Thanks, Val. But compared to some of the other "movies" that play in my head some nights, that one is pretty benign.

They're all handling it much better than I would have thought. At least in public. As I was thinking just this morning, it's not a matter of returning to normal, but finding a whole new normal.