Abbott Ambulance (Abbott EMS) recently hosted their 2019 Clinical Save Banquet in Columbia, IL. This annual event honors Abbott dispatchers, EMTs and paramedics that have played a crucial role in the communities that Abbott serves. They were commended on successful resuscitation of individuals during care and transport to local hospitals. The ceremony also recognized area fire departments, hospitals, law enforcement agencies, medical directors, and municipal officials who partner with Abbott EMS to provide care to those who are served.
Director of Emergency Services Deb Murbarger and Emergency Department Medical Director Dr. David Sprowls (pictured below) attended the ceremony to accept St. Anthony’s recognition alongside other emergency responders who were recognized for “clinical saves” over the past calendar year. According to "Essentials of ACLS", Advanced Cardiac Life Support, 1994 edition, “If a person stops breathing and his or her heart stops beating, this is called a clinical death. If the heart can be restarted and continues to beat long enough to admit the patient to a hospital, this is called a clinical save.”
Kyndal Dasenbrock’s Story
Patients who have been saved, and their families, also attended the ceremony to thank those who played a role in saving their lives. One such family was Stacy and Derek Dasenbrock. Stacy and Derek’s daughter 17-month-old daughter Kyndal who was involved in a near drowning accident on Stacy’s birthday June 22, 2018. Stacy performed CPR and was able to get her pulse back and get her breathing. Abbott Ambulance personnel continued treatment on Kyndal and, after being intubated and stabilized at St. Anthony’s, she was airlifted to Cardinal Glennon in St. Louis for further treatment.
After a year of specialized treatments and rehab in New Orleans, Panama, Orlando and Los Angeles, Kyndal is slowly but surely improving in sleeping, regaining head control, finding her voice back, eating and drinking normally, and being weaned off her last medication of five. She continues to have therapy at home with early interventions (with St. Anthony’s Physical Rehabilitation and Wellness therapists), along with other therapies. Her mom Stacy shared, “It is so wonderful to see her laughing and smiling again. She is improving every day…baby steps turning into big steps!”
Stacy and her husband Derek (center below), along with Kyndal’s grandmothers Becky Roepke and Lisa Brady (fourth and third from right, respectively), wanted to attend the Clinical Save Banquet to thank the EMTs and St. Anthony’s that together helped save Kyndal’s life. (Right to left) Brian Gerth, Abbott EMS Illinois Operations Manager, presented plaques to Tyler Thomas, EMT; Mike Schwenke, EMT-P; and Joseph Thies, EMT-P, and St. Anthony’s Emergency department to recognize their efforts that day.