Retired Nurse Helps Save Man In Cardiac Arrest At Pawhuska Church

A nurse attending a Pawhuska church helped save the life of a now 87-year-old man when his heart stopped. The man just had his birthday last week.

Phil Hudson teaches Sunday school at Lynn Baptist Church and said he does not even remember driving here the day he went into cardiac arrest.

It was a reunion full of smiles instead of the scare that brought them all together.

“It feels good to see anybody – especially these guys,” Hudson said.

The last time the group was together, earlier this month, Hudson was in trouble.

"I saw the color draining out of his face,” Tammy Monesmith said. “And I knew immediately we couldn't wait for an ambulance.”

As a retired nurse of 20 years, Monesmith knew exactly what to do.

"I was just doing chest compressions and praying that it was gonna be a good outcome,” she said.

She did CPR for several minutes until Pawhuska EMS and firefighters got to the church.

"It takes too long for us to respond to things without people getting in there and participating. Absolutely crucial,” Pawhuska paramedic Chris Bain said.

Hudson bought flowers for Tammy and gave them to her Friday.

"Tammy, there you go. Thank you for what you've done. And thank you for what the Lord allows you to do. You're such a lovely person,” Hudson said.

Phil hopes sharing his story encourages people to learn CPR.

"Somewhere, sometime, somebody's gonna need you. And you'll be there to do what Tammy did,” he said.

He is still recovering in a rehab facility and jokingly said he got a "day pass" to leave for this reunion. The 87-year-old says his heart trouble has given him a new perspective.

“I'm gonna be more thankful for the small things,” Hudson said. "And try to be more aware of life itself. If I can do that, I'll be thankful."

Thankful for the group of people who helped him and who he's already making new memories with.