Robin’s Story of Life-Saving Care and Support in a Dire Time of Need

Providing Life-Saving Care During a Medical Emergency

On a Monday morning, Meals on Wheels client Robin’s breathing had become labored. A survivor of congestive heart failure, Robin had also developed severe cellulitis in her right arm over the prior few days, which made that arm swell to about eight times its normal size.

Local volunteers Gena and Jeff Freeman arrived at her home around 11:40 a.m. to find their friend disoriented and struggling to breathe.

They first tried the emergency alert button Robin wore around her neck. It rang in vain and then went to a busy signal. They pressed the button again. Still, no answer.

Robin kept telling the couple she was fine and begging them to leave. She didn’t want to inconvenience anyone. But Gena and Jeff could tell the senior needed immediate medical attention and quickly decided to call 911.

“Robin,” Gena said, “we’re not leaving you until the first responders arrive.”

The couple also followed the 911 dispatcher’s advice and gave Robin four aspirin, which can save lives during cardiac emergencies.

When the paramedics got there, they immediately inserted an IV to get her fluids moving. After she was rushed to the hospital, a terrifying 24 pounds of fluid were removed from Robin’s arm, and she was saved from chronic heart failure.