In May of 2022, Summer went into Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) on her front porch. Thanks to her husband’s quick actions, she survived. After her diagnosis of Long QT Syndrome (LQTS) Type 1, Summer is on a mission to spread awareness about CPR – and “invisible” heart conditions like LQTS.
“The night of my SCA was my son’s senior prom; I’d just gotten home from dropping him off at prom,” says Summer. “My husband went to get pizza. When he got home, I heard him pull into the driveway, opened the door, and immediately collapsed.”
Her husband started CPR and called 911. “I’ve been told by multiple medical professionals that I’m only alive today because he immediately sprang into action,” she says.
Summer was in a coma in the hospital, where she stayed for ten days. She had broken ribs from CPR – which had saved both her life and brain function. Doctors ran genetic testing while she was unconscious. “I’d never even heard of Long QT Syndrome,” she says. “My one and only symptom was Sudden Cardiac Arrest at age 38.” The hospital put Summer on beta blockers and gave her an S-ICD before discharging her.
“It’s baffling to me how little aftercare there is for survivors of SCA and their families,” she says. “I’m leaps and bounds from where I was two years ago because I’ve found places
like SADS and CASA. When you survive, to medical professionals, that’s success – but there’s so little follow-up, and to say this event was traumatic is an understatement. My husband gave me CPR in front of my son, and all three of us have been deeply impacted.”
Summer is now focused on advocacy and bringing awareness to SCA and LQTS. In their town, the fire station holds a free hands-only CPR training once a month, which Summer attends – and tells her story to demonstrate the importance of CPR. She’s even been able to reconnect with the dispatcher and paramedics who helped save her life.
For those who are newly diagnosed, Summer recommends staying away from Google – and instead, connecting with the SADS and survivor community.
“Google tells you the scariest things. Tons of people live their life without knowing they have LQTS – having this knowledge, and being treated, means you’re protected,” she says. “There’s many good resources out there like NORD, CASA, SCAF, and CredibleMeds. Once I opened myself up to this new world of knowledge, I felt so much less scared.”