Vic, my husband had just been released from the hospital and we went by the pharmacy to pick up his prescriptions. While standing in line to pay, Vic said he didn’t feel well. He sat down at the nearby blood pressure machine and took his blood pressure, but as I watched him I could tell he was going unconscious. I reached out to grab him as he toppled to the floor and thankfully was able to protect his head. As I removed the blood pressure cuff I noticed everything read 0. By now the pharmacist had had someone call an ambulance and he and I started first aid.
What I am about to relay to you sounds like I was in a time warp or other dimension and perhaps I was, but I believe Jesus revealed himself to me exactly where I was in the middle of the pharmacy in Oliver. He came along side of me in my moment of need. Everything was happening quickly but for me there was a second dimension. I remember thinking “God help us”, but later learned that I had verbalized the thought out loud for everyone to hear. I heard someone praying and looked around to see who, but saw no one praying. In retrospect I believe Jesus was there praying for me.
The pharmacist could not get a pulse and I could not detect any breathing. I had just completed a refresher first aid course and should have done better than I did, but then perhaps that wasn’t meant to happen. Just as I leaned forward to start compressions Vic went into convulsions. I panicked and forgot everything I had learned. Instead I grabbed Vic by both shoulders and started shaking him rather forcefully while yelling at him that he couldn’t die.
Jesus was praying and the ambulance was on the way. Vic reached up his hand and touched my cheek. He was alive! We rolled him into the recovery position and the ambulance crew took over shortly after that. As I looked at the pharmacist he was staring at me and finally said “Never in my life have I seen first aid like that.” It certainly wasn’t the first aid St. John Ambulance had taught me but it was the first aid my upbringing had taught me and it worked! The doctor later told us that my shaking Vic jolted his heart and caused it to beat again.
Every time I think of that day I don’t think of the trauma. I remember that split second when I cried out to God for help and Jesus was immediately beside us praying. That gives me goosebumps.
Psalm 50:15 God says, “Call me when trouble comes. I will help you, and you will honour me.”