Boy revived after 30 minutes without pulse
REDMOND, Wash. -- Redmond Junior High School with buzzing with the legend of some gym class heroes.
They didn't win a game or hit a last-second shot. They did, however, save a life.
Sierra Pocza can smile once again. Her son's story has a happy ending.
"There are no words. There areno words. I have my son. There are no words," she said.
The unexpected struck 13-year-old Levi Pocza last week inside his school's gym. He ran one length of the basketball court, then asked for a drink of water. On the way to the water fountain, he collapsed.
"It was like, 'there's no pulse,'" said Chris Broderick, the gym teacher. "There was no time to process what that means. I just literally dropped to my knees and started to do what I can with CPR."
Broderick did the breathing for Levi while the football coach hooked up the automated defibrillator and the principal performed chest compressions.
"We don't practice these things. And as objective as I can be, it really was an amazing response," said Broderick said.
Some 30 minutes passed before Levi's heart started again.
Doctors at Children's Hospital say the school's response saved the boy's life. Even more amazing, the doctors say, is the fact Levi has shown no signs of brain damage.
Doctors haven't figured out what happened and Levi is still recovering at the hospital. But Levi and his mom know for certain he has new friends and angels who love his heart.
"I thought I was in a group of a few friends, then that (happened). It's pretty cool," Levi said. "Everyone at school -- I love them. They're cool."
"He's (Levi's) going to have to go to high school at Redmond Junior High, because I don't want him to go to any other school, ever!" Sienna said, laughing.
They didn't win a game or hit a last-second shot. They did, however, save a life.
Sierra Pocza can smile once again. Her son's story has a happy ending.
"There are no words. There areno words. I have my son. There are no words," she said.
The unexpected struck 13-year-old Levi Pocza last week inside his school's gym. He ran one length of the basketball court, then asked for a drink of water. On the way to the water fountain, he collapsed.
"It was like, 'there's no pulse,'" said Chris Broderick, the gym teacher. "There was no time to process what that means. I just literally dropped to my knees and started to do what I can with CPR."
Broderick did the breathing for Levi while the football coach hooked up the automated defibrillator and the principal performed chest compressions.
"We don't practice these things. And as objective as I can be, it really was an amazing response," said Broderick said.
Some 30 minutes passed before Levi's heart started again.
Doctors at Children's Hospital say the school's response saved the boy's life. Even more amazing, the doctors say, is the fact Levi has shown no signs of brain damage.
Doctors haven't figured out what happened and Levi is still recovering at the hospital. But Levi and his mom know for certain he has new friends and angels who love his heart.
"I thought I was in a group of a few friends, then that (happened). It's pretty cool," Levi said. "Everyone at school -- I love them. They're cool."
"He's (Levi's) going to have to go to high school at Redmond Junior High, because I don't want him to go to any other school, ever!" Sienna said, laughing.