Framingham Woman Survives Heart Scare Thanks To 'Guardian Angels'
WOBURN (CBS) - Andrea Cronin of Framingham says she has a lot to be thankful for this Easter.
"How to do you say thank you to someone for saving your life," she cried.
Just last month, the 46-year-old almost died after collapsing inside the bathroom of a Woburn hockey rink.
She went into ventricular fibrillation, where the heart is "fluttering fast and not pumping effectively," Andrea's husband George Cronin said.
Fortunately for Andrea, there were plenty of guardian angels all around her.
Sara Dilbarian was in the bathroom and saw her fall.
She immediately came to her aid and called for help.
"I could tell something was wrong. As I was leaving, she fell and hit her head on the brick wall," Sara said.
In another twist of fate came Woburn Police officer Michael Pacheco.
He was driving by the rink when he got the emergency call.
He also happened to have an automated external defibrillator (AED) in his backseat.
He rushed in and immediately began to apply the AED and administer CPR.
"I checked for a pulse and I didn't detect any. I could tell she wasn't breathing so at that point I took out the AED. It makes you feel great to be able to help someone else," Officer Pacheco said.
Moments later paramedics arrived and Andrea was rushed to Lahey Clinic.
After spending ten days in the hospital she is now at home recovering with her family, just in time for Easter.
"Everyone was right there and officer Pacheco did what he had to do to save my life. There is just so much to be thankful for," Andrea said.
