Leo Gillick
A shopping trip to a TJ Maxx store turned into a life-saving situation for a Tennessee CPR instructor who sprang into action.
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Zach Porter, a 27-year-old man, went into cardiac arrest at a TJ Maxx while doing his shopping. He had previously had heart surgery, and the young man ran into complications caused by scar tissue. An abnormality in the heart’s electrical pulse caused a cardiac arrest.
Thankfully, for Porter, Mike Brown had come into TJ Maxx to collect his wife from her lengthy shopping trip.
- “I didn’t want to go TJ Maxx with my wife, but I did,” the reluctant husband recalled. “And at the last minute, I decided to go in to herd her out of there. And there he was on the ground.”
Luck was on Porter’s side. Not only did Brown know CPR, but he was a pro. He had been teaching the life-saving procedure for some time. Brown jumped into action to save his life on the floor of the store.
- “It was just kind of surreal to be honest with you because nobody was really doing anything except trying to get his attention,” Brown said. “And so I just ran up and started doing CPR.”
Trauma Bonding
The life-saving CPR performed on the floor of the TJ Maxx store did more than just keep the man’s heart beating. Because of his comproessions, Porter avoided being brain damaged by the lack of blood. He owes him more than just his life. His brain health was also saved that day.
- “I mean, he literally saved my brain, saved my life by just keeping my blood pumping, which is pretty great,” Porter said. “I’m super lucky, and it could have happened anywhere.”
The experience brought the two men together. Brown saved Porter’s life on the floor of that store, and he’s not about to forget it anytime soon. He will forever be in his debt, but the two see it as divine intervention.
It’s quick and easy to learn CPR and well worth doing. In situations like these, the short course could save a life.
