Chino Resident Chris Jimenez Survives a Cardiac Arrest Thanks to His Family’s Swift Actions
- Category: Blog, Heart And Vascular
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Chris Jimenez, a 43 –year-old resident of Chino, was admitted to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center’s (PVHMC) Emergency Department with a fighting chance for survival thanks to the swift actions of his wife and daughter, who recognized that he was experiencing a cardiac arrest.
It all started in February when Chris’ wife, Bridget, heard him gasping for air as he was sleeping and saw that he was turning blue and purple from a lack of oxygen. She called 9-1-1 and began mouth-to-mouth resuscitation efforts. She called out for their daughter Emi, a nursing student, who immediately began CPR on her father as they waited for the first responders to arrive.
According to the American Heart Association, it’s estimated that 350,000 Americans die from sudden cardiac arrest each year. Nearly 70% of cardiac arrests happen outside of the hospital, and about 90% of those people will die because they don’t receive immediate medical attention. The good news is that that when someone experiences a cardiac arrest and a bystander initiates CPR immediately, there’s a 45% chance of survival.
In the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU), Chris received Targeted Temperature Management (TTM), a procedure that involves cooling the patient’s core body temperature to a specific range to reduce brain damage and improve neurological outcomes. It’s a complex procedure that can be highly effective in a person’s recovery.
After his lifesaving intervention at PVHMC, Chris was transferred to a Kaiser hospital to receive an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), a small device that monitors the heart and delivers a small shock if it detects an irregular heart rhythm.
Three weeks later, upon his discharge, Chris worked diligently to improve his mobility, he would walk daily, increasing his movement each day.
“Experiencing a cardiac arrest was an absolute shock,” says Chris. “I had no previously diagnosed heart condition and I was lucky that my daughter was there for me that day, she helped save my life.”
Since his cardiac arrest, Chris has undergone a genetic test and is awaiting results to find out if there’s any clues to what could have led to the incident.
Over the course of 10 weeks, Chis made a remarkable recovery. He and Bridget returned to PVHMC, bringing delightful treats for all who helped save Chris’s life. Their visit served as a powerful reminder of the deep human connection at the heart of the nursing profession.
“Witnessing Chris' recovery and sharing in the overwhelming gratitude of his family profoundly impacted each member of our team,” said Margarita Guillermo, RN, PVHMC CVICU nurse. “It was powerfully reinforced the vital role we play not only in saving lives, but also in offering comfort, hope, and support to patients and their loved ones during their most vulnerable moments.”
Every day, Chris is getting stronger, he’s been able to get back to his passion for filming and editing videos. He’s taking walks around his neighborhood and he’s looking forward to getting back to cycling and working out.
“Step by step, I’m getting stronger and feeling better,” said Chris. “I’m grateful to have survived and thankful to everyone who worked to save my life.”
Chris was able to share his story in a personal video in the hopes that it will inspire others to persevere, no matter what challenges they may face, and to encourage everyone to learn CPR.
