‘You Never Know When You’ll Be Called to Save a Life’: The Walk That Sparked a Lifelong Friendship
After a stranger's lifesaving CPR, one grateful grandma set out to find her hero
Key Takeaways
- Melinda Pereira, 60, suffered sudden cardiac arrest during a routine walk in a Virginia park.
- Off-duty nurse Alyssa Leimberger performed immediate CPR, which proved critical to her survival
- After a televised search, the two women reunited at the park and forged a lifelong friendship.
A walk in the park turned critical when Melinda Pereira collapsed and a stranger rushed in to start CPR — leading to a sweet reunion and lifelong friendship. Here, they share their story with Woman’s World.
“Be right back,” Melinda Pereira told her staff before heading out for a walk at Echo Lake Park in Henrico County, Virginia.
The 60-year-old mother of three and grandmother of six works as the program director for a group home for people with disabilities and took a few minutes to clear her head.
Okay, I should head back, she told herself after one lap around but that was when her world turned black!
Meanwhile, administrative RN Alyssa Leimberger decided to take a break from working at home to go for a walk with her neighbor, Kris, in the same park.
“What’s going on?” Alyssa asked when she saw a few people huddled around a woman lying on the ground.
“Has anyone called 911?” Kris asked. “Yes,” someone said, then asked, “Do you know CPR?”
“I’m a nurse!” Alyssa went down on one knee by Melinda. Suddenly, she let out a long breath and then nothing.
“Her heart stopped!” Alyssa reported and began CPR.
Alyssa was doing compressions when paramedics arrived. They used a portable defibrillator twice, but Melinda’s heart was still stopped as they put her in the ambulance.
“I hope she makes it,” Alyssa told Kris as they headed home, but she knew the odds were stacked against Melinda.
And yet, weeks later, Melinda came around. “You were extremely lucky,” the cardiologist told her. “A bystander started CPR right away. It’s the only reason you made it.”
Melinda felt overwhelmed with gratitude and knew she had to find her guardian angel. After she was released from the hospital, she headed to the local firehouse. “We didn’t get her name,” the fire chief told her. But Melinda was determined. She reached out to a local TV station. “I want to nominate her for your Act of Kindness Award, but I don’t know who she is.”
The station aired a feature about Melinda’s search for her rescuer. “Let me know who you are,” she pleaded.
“That’s her!” Alyssa exclaimed when she watched the segment. “You have to reach out,” her husband, Mark, insisted.
Alyssa emailed the reporter, and soon the women arranged to meet back where Alyssa saved Melinda’s life.
“I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you,” Melinda said, giving Alyssa a grateful hug. The women are now friends for life. “Everybody should learn CPR,” Alyssa insisted. “You never know where or when you’ll be called upon to save a life!”
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