Local Woman Dies Three Times And Lives To Tell The Tale
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ROBERTSON COUNTY, TENNESSEE: (Smokey Barn News) – Robertson County EMS Director Brent Dyer says his team had the honor of reuniting with a woman who wanted to meet the crew she credits with saving her life, three times!
A while back, Paula Dollens of Springfield left a local restaurant in Greenbrier with her husband, brother, and sister-in-law, who were visiting from out of town. Dollens began to feel ill, then suddenly lost consciousness. Her husband pulled over on the side of U.S. Highway 41S in Greenbrier, and 911 was called. Dollens’ sister-in-law, a nurse, found that she wasn’t breathing and had no pulse — she was in cardiac arrest.
As family members worked to get her into position so CPR could begin, every second counted. According to the American Heart Association, each minute that passes during sudden cardiac arrest reduces a person’s chance of survival by 10%.
The Greenbrier Fire Department sent five personnel to the scene, including one off-duty firefighter who was at the station when he heard the call and jumped in to help. Firefighters began CPR, and Robertson County EMS arrived with two paramedics who worked quickly to provide Advanced Cardiac Life Support. Dollens was then transported to TriStar NorthCrest Medical Center, with one firefighter driving and another firefighter/paramedic riding in back alongside the two EMS paramedics.
En route to the hospital, the team restored Dollens’ pulse and restarted her heart. She remained critical, was intubated, and was given medications in the ambulance to stabilize her. She went into cardiac arrest two more times during the resuscitation phase before NorthCrest’s Emergency Department staff and doctors took over her care with specialized cardiac treatment and further stabilization.
Dollens, her daughter Tiffany Ellis, and her best friend Charlene Rice reunited with the fire department and EMS responders who cared for her that day. Dollens shared her story in detail, tying her outcome to her faith, and had the chance to personally thank and hug the responders.
“I’ve always prayed for you all and your safety, but now I pray even more for you and thank God for you all,” Dollens told the team.
Dyer said it was an emotional moment to watch his paramedics embrace the person whose life they saved, and to hear her express how much their work meant to her.
“This is our ‘why,'” Dyer said. “Why we do what we do — to help everyone in their most vulnerable moments and try our best to give second chances at the gift of life. We are very proud of our team.”
