Survival, Intertwined
This past Monday, May 11, marked six years since Will’s sudden cardiac arrest. In the wee hours of that morning, Kristin performed 10 minutes of CPR that kept him alive. Those 10 minutes changed our lives forever.
Obviously, this is a day that brings up a lot of emotions for our family. From the relief and joy of survival; to the reckoning of lasting trauma, it’s been a rollercoaster. In this month’s essay, both of us reflect on our intertwined experiences.
How To Offer Co-Survivors Help That Works
“Let me know if you need anything.” A moment of brutal honesty: I grew to despise that phrase over the course of Will’s cancers and after his sudden cardiac arrest. I know that the people who said it were well-meaning. They wanted to help, but maybe didn’t feel confident about how to approach it. Maybe […]
Avoid These 10 Mistakes: Supporting Co-Survivors In Medical Emergencies
Discover the 10 mistakes healthcare professionals make with co-survivors in medical emergencies and learn how to provide better support.
How To Be A Compassionate Clinician In One Easy Step
When we were in our late 20s, my husband, Will, got cancer. When he was 30, he got cancer again, unrelated to the first time. When he was 34, he died in his sleep, but I wouldn’t let him go. After his unexplained sudden cardiac arrest, Will ended up in the ICU, where a nurse […]
The Gift of Honesty: How Truth Transformed a Child’s Perspective on Dad’s Survival
Hi. I’m a kid. FYI, I’m also funny. That probably isn’t the introduction you’re used to, but it turns out it’s important. Because, as you may have experienced, newfangled kids like me think a bit differently than you adults. But that doesn’t mean we’re incapable of processing important, if not scary, moments in our lives. […]
Lockdown, Love, and Life-Saving CPR: A Mother’s Day to Remember
I will never forget May 11, 2020; my husband will never remember. It was an out-of-body experience. Part of my brain was solely focused on what I needed to do. The other part was watching us from a third-person perspective while our life together flashed before my eyes. Stunned, I laced my fingers together, one […]