A heartfelt thank you: Woman meets paramedics, firefighters who revived her
Shannon Tanton's heart stopped for 15 minutes after having a major heart attack on Jan. 12.

On Tuesday, Tanton, 52, met the team of emergency responders who revived her.

Tanton said her doctors called her a medical miracle. She experienced a 'widow maker' heart attack, which she said her doctors told her has a 12% chance of survival. A crew from Tri-Hospital EMS and the Port Huron Fire Department worked quickly to revive her and transport her to McLaren Port Huron. After being discharged with no deficits, she wanted to thank the people who saved her life.

"It was 15 minutes, and I can't believe that they did not give up," Tanton said. "They used all of their supplies, but they just kept going. By all means, I should not be here."

Tanton met with three of the firefighters and one paramedic that were involved in reviving her, as well as other staff members of Tri-Hospital EMS Tuesday afternoon. She gave them some edible fruit arrangements that she made as well.

Tri-Hospital EMS Paramedic Dispatcher Mike Rice said it was a great team effort to bring back Tanton. He said every factor from that day fell into place and added up to a good save.

Rice said this was the first time someone came to thank him after coming back from a cardiac arrest episode.

"I've been doing this a long time," he said. "It's appreciated."

Port Huron Fire Lt. Roger Howison said the dispatched crew don't usually hear about the patient after they are brought to the hospital, so it was nice to hear that Tanton was doing OK.

Vice President of Clinical Services Karyn Belanger said while Tri-Hospital EMS does get requests from patients to meet the crews to say thank you, it does not happen too often. When it does, she said they always honor that request.

Before the meeting had been set up, some members of the crew were asking if Tanton was doing OK.

"This crew was very excited to hear that (Tanton) wanted to meet them," she said.

Tanton said she had been having chest pains for a few months prior to her heart attack on Jan. 12. She said she had seen a doctor a few days before but was told the issue was not with her heart. Tanton said her arms had been tingling as well before the heart attack.

Since recovering, she has not had chest pain or tingling arms like she had before the heart attack. Her chest, however, is still sore from getting CPR and being shocked a few times.

Tanton said her previously high cholesterol and liver levels are now back in a normal range as well.

"It's like my body had a factory reset," she said.

Chest pain should be taken seriously. When someone is experiencing chest pains accompanied by difficulty breathing and sweating, they should not hesitate to call 911.