A Brampton physical education teacher is celebrating a second chance at life after surviving a sudden cardiac arrest during a family vacation in New York City, thanks to the quick thinking of her teenage stepson.
A Family Bike Ride Turns Critical
Lindsay MacOdrum, a 41-year-old resident of Rockwood, Ontario, was enjoying a bicycle ride through New York City's Central Park with her family on June 15 when tragedy struck. Without warning, she suffered a cardiac arrest and lost her pulse for approximately 30 minutes.
"I kind of took my last breath and I started foaming at the mouth," MacOdrum recalled. Her family initially thought she was having a seizure before realizing she had stopped breathing entirely.
Quick Action Makes the Difference
The situation took a hopeful turn when MacOdrum's 17-year-old stepson, Maddox, immediately began performing CPR. Remarkably, Maddox had completed a CPR certification course just one week earlier as part of his training for a camp counsellor position.
"He's like my angel," MacOdrum said. "What are the chances? It was insane."
A doctor and nurse who happened to be in Central Park took over CPR for about six minutes until the Central Park ambulance team arrived. Paramedics administered shocks seven times in total while transporting her to Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital.
Medical Miracle Against the Odds
Dr. Dan Pugliese, MacOdrum's physician and a heart rhythm disorder specialist, confirmed that Maddox's immediate CPR was crucial to her survival.
"It's the reason you're able to talk to her now," said Dr. Pugliese. "CPR is critical at maintaining blood flow. It basically externally compresses the heart and pumps blood through the body, preserving brain function."
During transport to the hospital, MacOdrum was given only a 10% chance of survival. Her condition was so dire that family members were advised to come say their goodbyes while she remained in a coma on a ventilator.
After five days in hospital, MacOdrum began to show improvement. Medical testing revealed she had an undetected weakening of the heart muscle that led to heart failure and ultimately caused her cardiac arrest. Cardiologists performed an emergency procedure to implant a defibrillator in her heart to maintain normal rhythm.
Recovery and Important Lessons
MacOdrum spent 12 days in the New York hospital before flying back to Ontario on a commercial flight accompanied by a nurse. Her medical treatment was covered by OHIP.
Now recovering at home, MacOdrum is walking about eight kilometers daily and doing light weight training, with plans to return to teaching in January.
Reflecting on her experience, MacOdrum acknowledges she had experienced earlier symptoms that she ignored, including shortness of breath during runs, unusual fatigue while teaching, and shoulder pain.
Dr. Pugliese emphasized that younger people often dismiss warning signs: "We have to be mindful of times when something's not quite right. Younger people are much more willing to say, 'No, I'm young, I'm healthy. I'm fine. Let me just kind of push through.'"
MacOdrum now shares two important messages from her experience: "One thing I've learned is if there is anything you're not sure of, go get it checked out because you never know. And more people need to take a CPR course."
