Rocky Point Fire Department paramedics honored by Mather Hospital for efforts in saving a patient’s life

Mather Hospital honored seven paramedics from the Rocky Point Fire Department for their heroic efforts to save the life of a patient who had suffered a cardiac arrest.

Jeffrey Forden was working out at his Rocky Point home when he complained of back pain, according to his wife, Linda Sinanian Forden. “He got up and went to the couch and immediately went into cardiac arrest and from that moment, he was gone for maybe 20-30 minutes,” she said. “I called 911 within seconds and they talked me through CPR. There was no response.”

A Rocky Point Fire Department paramedic arrived and began working on Mr. Forden, taking over CPR and defibrillating. When more paramedics and EMTs arrived, they brought a LUCAS device to assist in the delivery of CPR. The LUCAS device delivers consistent and uninterrupted automatic chest compressions during CPR. “They worked so hard on him. They had relentless focus,” Mrs. Forden said. “I went in the ambulance with him, and they never stopped working on him.”

Mr. Forden was intubated and then brought to Mather Hospital. In the Emergency Department the electrocardiogram revealed that he had a heart attack. He underwent cardiac catheterization that revealed a blockage in one of the main coronary arteries of his heart. The blockage was opened through insertion of a stent. Before discharge from the hospital, it was determined that Mr. Forden would benefit from an implanted subcutaneous defibrillator, which was done at Mather’s Electrophysiology Laboratory.

“With this great team approach, from EMS to Mather’s Emergency Department, ICU, and the new Cardiac Catheterization and Electrophysiology Laboratories, we were able to provide comprehensive care for Mr. Forden,” said Luis Gruberg, MD, director of the Cardiac Catheterization Lab.

“He was gone, and they brought him back to life. Even the fact that he survived, and they could bring him to the ICU, was incredible,” Mrs. Forden said.

“They spent a lot of time with me, and they didn’t give up,” said Mr. Forden. “They were very determined to see me come back, and I really appreciate that.”