PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — You only live once. But in 79-year-old Beverly Rubin’s case, she says she’s living twice.
Last July, Rubin suffered a pulmonary embolism and was in cardiac arrest. “I died,” she said.
Lt. Dan Field said she was suffering what he described as an often impossible medical mountain to climb. But that day, the stars aligned.
“Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is a fickle beast. Everything has to line up for things to go well, and it did,” he said. “People were there when they were needed most.”
The swift response from seven Engine 43 and Medic 44 EMTs saved her life.
After months of rehab, Rubin sent a letter to the department asking to meet her heroes. In Center City on Tuesday, she reunited with them to properly thank them.
“They gave me my life back,” she said. “I wonder what I was left here to do. I think it’s to live my life as best I can. I’m going to be 80 this year. It’s a miracle.”
“How does one thank you, your department and heroic personnel for saving the life of this great lady?” asked Beverly Rubin’s husband, Roger. “Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We simply want to express that recognition is due to these fine human beings.”
Fields called the rescue a team effort.
“If it wasn’t for everyone who was there who did what they did when they did it, it wouldn’t be possible,” he said.
Beverly Rubin added, “You know they say: You only live once, but I’m living twice. It’s a miracle.”