b"To figure out why the cardiac arrest happened in the first place, she underwent numerous tests, until doctors determined that the culprit was likely preeclampsia, a serious medical complication that can occur about midway through pregnancy where the expectant mother experiences dangerously high blood pressure and protein in their urine. Four days after giving birth Jennifer was able to meet Micah in the NICU. Seeing Micah for the first time and having her three-and-a-half-pound son placed on her chest overwhelmed her with emotion. It was in this moment that reality set in for Jennifer, who knew the stats. On average, only 10% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims survive. How had she and Micah gotten so lucky? Jennifer knew it was divine intervention and nothing short of a miracle. I truly believe this isGrateful and overwhelmed to be alive and conscious, she spent the why God put me onnext several days by Micahs side, cherishing every moment she could earth, to improvewith her tiny miracle. Eight days later, Jennifer left the hospital with resuscitation quality.an external, wearable defibrillator, which provided her with added peace of mind. Micah was transferred to the childrens hospital I really feel like that'swhere Jennifer worked, for careful observation, and the Hayes family my calling. continued to approach eachJennifer Hayes day with cautious optimism. Meanwhile Jennifer was grappling with an overwhelming storm of emotions, postpartum recovery, severe PTSD, crippling anxiety, and panic attackssomething that many survivors face as they try to get back to normal. The fear of being alone consumed her. She didnt feel comfortable sitting or lying down without someone near her worried that if she collapsed again, no one would hear her in time to save her. Fortunately, Micah met all the developmental milestones through the NICU, and after two and a half months, he was discharged home. When Micah turned three months old, the Hayes family introduced him to the first responders who had been there on that fateful night. It was incredibly important to Jennifer that they also meet the 911 dispatcher, to say thank you for helping to save two lives. There will never be enough ways to say thank you for what they did for my family, Jennifer says, welling up with gratitude. When she looks at family pictures, she cant help but think it could have just been Kyle and Matthew. A long string of fortunate coincidences and quickly made choices came togetherJennifer, Kyle, Micah, and Matthewto ensure that they stayed a family of four. grateful for the chance to be a family of four.TURNING SURVIVAL INTO PURPOSEAfter experiencing a cardiac arrest herself, she thought her journey would lead her into the world of survivorship, allowing her to connect with victims and their families to offer support. While shes certainly pursued that path, something kept pulling her back to the heart of it all: resuscitation quality. Through her own experience, she truly understood the profound difference quality CPR can make. Now, as she leads a resuscitation program, she views every life saved through the lens of a survivor, a patient, and even a mother whose child might never have experienced cardiac arrest but is forever connected to its impact. Her work isnt just about improving techniques; its about saving lives and making the difference that truly counts.11Written by Tarrell Mitchell, Content Writer, Communications and Marketing, Oxford College of Emory University. 11"