Bringing home a newborn baby is usually a joyous occasion – with the pink or blue nursery filling with gentle coos and
smells of baby powder. But the homecoming for Shelly Shabdue, a local mom, was certainly not as peaceful as a lullaby.  Her daughter, Kaitlyn, was born prematurely and had spent several weeks in the hospital NICU unit due to collapsed lungs. Thought to be strong enough to go home, Shelly placed her daughter into her crib for the first time. Within thirty minutes, she was shocked to find her baby purple and unresponsive.

Knowing every moment was crucial, Shelly called 9-1-1 and performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), an emergency
technique administered to preserve brain function and restore circulation. She describes the traumatic experience as the longest
three minutes of her life, with every moment becoming more frightening than the last. Thankfully, Shelly was armed with
lifesaving skills, including first aid and CPR, from a certification course taken during her babysitting career as a teenager. She
never thought, of course, that she would in fact need to use such techniques on any child, let alone her own daughter.

After that near fatal incident, Kaitlyn wore a monitor equipped with an automatic 9-1-1 communication alarm. Kaitlyn did have
a second episode but, again, Shelly quickly took action and helped save her daughter’s life. Kaitlyn, now 10-years-old, is a healthy and happy young girl. “Knowing CPR is extremely important! I credit my knowledge of CPR for my daughter’s life, along with thousands of others who received CPR from their family members,” Shelly said. “Unfortunately, cardiac arrest and heart disease can strike perfectly healthy people at any time.” According to the American Heart Association, without immediate CPR response there is only an 8 percent chance of someone, at any age, surviving a sudden cardiac event outside of a hospital setting.

Heart disease is responsible for over 41,000 deaths in Florida, including over 2,200 in Orange and Seminole Counties; but
families and companies can proactively participate in saving lives.  Shelly and Kaitlyn, along with over 18,000 walkers, will participate in the Greater Orlando Heart Walk to benefit the American Heart Association on September 7, 2013 at the University of Central Florida – Memory Mall. This year, the organization and volunteers hope to raise $1,500,000 to enhance research, education, and programs. Family activities include a special kids’ zone, onsite fitness and health experts, games, and entertainment.

For more information, visit www.greaterorlandoheartwalk.org.

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