Nine-Year-Old Uses CPR to Save Church Member’s Life: ‘I Couldn’t Let Him Die’
After watching a CPR video for school, Logan knew exactly what to do when a church member collapsed
Key Takeaways
- A brave nine-year-old used CPR video training to save his church leader during a service.
- Immediate chest compressions kept oxygen-rich blood flowing until paramedics arrived.
- Quick action helped a beloved mentor survive a dangerous cardiac arrest with no damage.
After watching a video about CPR, 9-year-old Logan VanGemert was called upon to help save a fellow church member — and he knew just what to do. Here, he shares his story with Woman’s World.
Logan VanGemert’s Martin, Michigan, elementary school was participating in the Kids Heart Challenge, a program that awards prizes to students for learning about heart disease.
“If I watch all the videos, I’ll win a superhero cape,” the 9-year-old told his mom.
That day’s video demonstrated how to perform CPR. Logan tried to focus on the video, but he couldn’t stop thinking about that cape.
The next day at Logan’s church, the adults attended services in the new chapel while the youngsters gathered by age group in the old wing.
Logan joined 50 other 3rd to 5th graders led by Tom and Beth Adriance. They played a Bible verse memory game, then prepared to sing.
As the music began, without warning, Tom slumped out of his seat and landed face down on the floor.
“Tom!” Beth cried out, racing to his side.
Beth tried rolling Tom over, but he was limp and too heavy.
“I need help!” she called, and Logan was there. They rolled Tom onto his back, and he didn’t have a pulse.
“Oh no, he’s not breathing!” Beth panicked.
Beth had CPR training, but performing it on her husband of 45 years terrified her.
“I can’t do this!” she sobbed.
Then Logan stepped up.
“I can do CPR!” he declared, and as he dropped to the floor, the video he’d just watched came to his mind.
Logan pressed both hands against Mr. Tom’s chest and pushed with all his might.
Logan was still pushing when another adult arrived to take over and yet another arrived with a portable defibrillator.
At the hospital, doctors told Beth her husband had suffered total cardiac arrest.
“His EKG is showing what we call the death rhythm — people rarely even make it to the hospital.”
It took several weeks and bypass surgery, but Tom was finally ready for visitors. And Logan was one of the first.
“My hero!” Tom couldn’t stop thanking Logan.
Because he’d kept the blood flowing to his brain in those critical first moments, Tom experienced no neurological damage at all.
Logan received hero awards from his school and his church. He also received his superhero cape. He wore it proudly when he and Tom spoke at a recent Heart Association meeting.
“I couldn’t let Mr. Tom die,” he told the group. “I needed to remember what to do, and the Holy Spirit showed me.”
“God was watching out for Tom,” says Beth, “and He used Logan to give us a true miracle.”
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