Doctor’s own crisis leads to CPR campaign; His group pushes for education and defibrillators in businesses, homes
By Katie Fallon katiefallon@reporternewspapers.net A local rheumatologist has made CPR education his priority since his own heart crisis put him in the position of being the patient instead of doctor. Dr. Sam Schatten, a Sandy Springs resident, formed the CLEAR (Cardiac Life Extension and Rescue) Coalition in April of last year after he went into cardiac arrest at a bar mitzvah the previous December. Since then, he and the coalition have served as an advocacy group for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the benefits of having access to an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). Schatten’s journey began at what should have been a joyous occasion. “I was perfectly healthy until December 10, 2005,” Schatten said. “I was dancing at a bar mitzvah and I got very dizzy and my heart stopped. I went into cardiac arrest.” Fortunately for Schatten, three doctor friends were attending the same bar mitzvah and were able to perform CPR and revive the 53-year-old father of four sons. When he arrived at Piedmont Hospital, Schatten said doctors initially thought he had a blood clot, but it turned out to be cancer that was blocking his pulmonary artery. “Six days later, the surgeons took out this big mass that turned out to be a pulmonary artery sarcoma, which is a very rare type of cancer,” Schatten said. “Because of that, I got chemotherapy and radiation and subsequently went...
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