A mother and her baby boy were recently saved after the mom suffered cardiac arrest while seven months pregnant. The family had the opportunity to reunite with the emergency workers who made the rescue possible.
According to a press release from the East Midlands Ambulance Service in the United Kingdom, 37-year-old Nwadimma Chioma Okorie was pregnant with her third child when the medical emergency occurred on July 1.
The mom recalled feeling a bit warm, which she initially attributed to the summer heat, but otherwise felt normal.
While her husband, Charles, went upstairs to sleep, she fell asleep in the living room.
However, at approximately 12:30 a.m. local time, Okorie suddenly screamed and began “gasping for air” before experiencing a seizure, Charles recounted. He remembered shouting her name and attempting to lay her on the floor to “clear her airway.”
Their quick-thinking 8-year-old son, Kesean, immediately called for help and reached Emergency Medical Advisor Chloe Alvey. Alvey quickly recognized the emergency and dispatched emergency teams.
Charles was getting ready to drive his wife to the hospital himself as a last option. But before he could leave, the first responders, police officers, arrived. The situation was very serious: Okorie had stopped breathing. Charles, with the help of his relative Olumide Alaba, urgently carried the laboring mom downstairs to meet the emergency crew.
PCs James Condon and Joseph Wood were the first to provide crucial aid. They immediately began Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) on Okorie. This life-saving action happened just before specialized emergency medical staff quickly arrived to take over the advanced care needed to save her life.
Okorie was rushed to Kettering General Hospital (KGH). When she arrived, doctors had to act immediately. To save both mother and child, an emergency C-section was performed right away, successfully delivering her baby boy, Bryan.
The difficult time was not over, though. Okorie’s own recovery was challenging and required a long stay in the hospital. She spent three critical days in the intensive care unit (ICU) while doctors watched her closely.
After she was stable, Okorie needed major surgery to implant a pacemaker, a device necessary to keep her heart rhythm regular and ensure her ongoing health.
At the same time, her newborn, Bryan, was fighting his own battle. He needed specialized and constant medical care, so he was immediately admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), where he stayed for a long period of 60 days.
Looking back on the frightening experience and the professional, caring help they received, the couple shared their deep thanks to everyone involved in saving their lives.
They recognized the vital roles played by the emergency staff and hospital workers, saying, “The police, the ambulance crews, the doctors and nurses at KGH, they are our heroes. We are forever grateful.”
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Okorie, who initially had no recollection of the event, has since learned the details of the ordeal. She stated, “I am now focused on moving forward, and I want to use my experience to help others.”
Duty Commander Matthew Crawford released a statement crediting the swift collaboration of the family, police, and ambulance crews with saving Okorie’s life.
“Thanks to the actions of the family, the police officers, and our ambulance crews giving early CPR and working together to provide the best possible care, Nwadimma was back fighting that morning,” Crawford said.
Months after the rescue, Okorie and her baby, Bryan, were reportedly doing well, according to Crawford. The first responders, including Crawford, were able to meet with the mother, her son, and their grateful family.
Charles, the father, explained that upon moving to the U.K., he and his wife “never imagined facing something like this.” However, he added, “But I’ve stayed strong for my family, and I thank God every day for giving us a second chance.”
Okorie added, “I feel so pleased to see the team again, and I am so grateful for their quick response. If it wasn’t for that, I don’t think the outcome would have been me standing here today.”
