GRANDVIEW, Mo. — A school health coordinator and school resource officer at Grandview High School saved a student last month.
According to the Grandview School District, freshman Isabella McMahill went into cardiac arrest a couple weeks ago.
School Health Coordinator Mary Rhodes and Grandview Police Department School Resource Officer Brett Myers administered CPR and used an AED to help revive Isabella until paramedics arrived.
Warning: Some may find the below video disturbing.
“Without the AED in this instance, the outcome would certainly have been different,” Rhodes said. “It allowed us to save a life that day.”
Rhodes has been with the district for more than 25 years. This is the first time she’s had to use an AED to help save a student.
“I think at that time it was just, 'do what you were trained to do, do it to the best of your ability and hoping like everything that was going to turn out well,'" Rhodes said.
Isabella McMahill, was overcome with emotion Wednesday as she talked about the school nurse, and school resource officer who saved her life using the AED.
"Of course I’m thankful. I mean I’m not going to take anything for granted anymore,” said Isabella McMahall.
This was the second time in a month Officer Myers helped save a child’s life. The Grandview Police Department recognized Myers in early October for saving a choking baby after responding to a 911 call.
“Both times I was just doing what I was put there to do,” Myers said. “At the high school, I was fortunate to have the right people around me doing what needed to be done to get the best outcome possible — saving a life.”
Three weeks after being carried out of the school by emergency crews, Isabella was back in school.
“That’s the greatest gift is the gift of life and I mean to see her walk back in school this past Monday and I’m not very emotional person but it definitely sort of cutting onions and I started tearing up but it’s just incredible to see her walk back in here,” said SRO Myers.
Isabella has a serious heart problem and doctors told her that she needs a heart transplant.
She’s hoping to get on the list for a new heart in early next year.
