Two days before leaving Italy to return to Melbourne, where I’ve lived with my husband since 2020, my life changed completely. We were having dinner, and I felt fine,no symptoms, no warning signs. Suddenly, I felt my heart’s rhythm change. I barely managed to call out to my husband, “I’m not feeling right,” before everything went black.
I had gone into cardiac arrest.
In those critical moments, my husband and his family, who had taken a first aid course only a few months earlier, saved my life. Realising the severity of the situation, they immediately began CPR while on the phone with emergency services. An ambulance arrived quickly with a defibrillator. After 12 minutes and one shock, my heart started beating again, and I was brought back to life.
I woke up the next day in Empoli Hospital S. Giovanni di Dio, in the Cardiology Department guided by Dr. Del Rosso. I was cared for by an exceptional team, including Dr. Girasole, who performed the surgery to implant my S-ICD (subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator) on July 12th. I want to express my deepest gratitude to the entire Cardiology team. Their kindness, professionalism, and humanity made an incredibly difficult time feel just a little easier.
After being discharged and trying to make sense of everything, I searched online for others with similar experiences. That’s how I connected with Francesca Musso (@livingwiththesicd). Francesca introduced me to Her Heart, a fantastic initiative that raises awareness for heart health. Francesca is doing incredible work to promote awareness about heart disease in Italy, the country I come from. She’s a true advocate, and her dedication shows how vital it is to create networks and support systems for people facing similar challenges.
This experience has taught me how crucial CPR and defibrillator training are. If my husband and in-laws hadn’t known what to do, I wouldn’t be here today. Public access to defibrillators is a blessing, but knowing how to use them and perform CPR can be the difference between life and death.
I also want to encourage everyone to listen to their body. If you feel unusually tired or unwell, don’t dismiss it as nothing. Sometimes, it’s a sign of something more serious. Being proactive about your health can prevent emergencies like mine.
To those who have survived similar events, I want you to know that it’s okay to feel scared, overwhelmed, or uncertain about the future. A psychologist helped me process my emotions and guided me through this new chapter of my life. Take things one day at a time, ask for help when you need it, and be kind to yourself.
Lastly, to everyone out there: you can be someone’s hero. Thanks to Federico, my husband, and Michele, Tania, and Riccardo, my in-laws, I’m alive today. Their quick thinking and knowledge of first aid made all the difference.
CPR saves lives. Learn it, share it, and never underestimate the power of being prepared. You never know when you might save someone’s life. And don’t underestimate the power of connection—networking with others who understand your journey can make all the difference.