Teen’s quick CPR saves grandmother’s life, family honored at Richmond Heart Ball

A Chesterfield teenager’s swift action in performing CPR saved her grandmother’s life after a sudden cardiac arrest last fall. The family is now being honored at the 2025 American Heart Association Heart Ball, highlighting the critical importance of bystander CPR.

What began as a typical family movie night on Friday, Sept. 13, 2024, quickly turned into a life-threatening emergency for Elizabeth Jackson, affectionately known as “Ms. Liz” by her preschoolers.

“We had just sat down on the couch and we were talking about her day, and then she just said, ‘Hold on,'” recalled Elana Ringgold, Elizabeth’s daughter. “I’m like screaming, please turn the lights on, turn the lights on.”

Surrounded by her loving family—daughter Elana Ringgold, granddaughters Morgan and M.J., and son-in-law John Ringgold—Elizabeth Jackson suffered a cardiac arrest in her living room. Fortunately, granddaughter M.J. Ringgold was prepared to act.

“I saw that her face was turning colors almost. Her lips were blue,” M.J. described. “She was lifeless, basically. And that’s when I knew I had to start CPR.”

M.J., certified in CPR through her Midlothian High School athletic weight training class, relied on her muscle memory to provide her grandmother with a lifeline. The situation became a family effort, with Elizabeth’s son-in-law, John Ringgold taking over compressions until paramedics arrived.

“It’s kind of hard to believe that actually happened because it was so surreal,” said John Ringgold. “You know, it didn’t feel like it actually happened like a dream almost.”

Jackson said she thanks God for the brave act of her family jumping right in and doing what they had to do.

“When the first responders came, they had me connected to a LUCAS machine,” Jackson said. “That is a fascinating type of machine that really brought me back to life.”

Despite a history of heart failure, Elizabeth made a remarkable recovery after being in a medically induced coma for three days while undergoing surgery.

“I have a pacemaker, and I only had one lead to my heart, and they wanted to add a second lead to my heart and a defibrillator,” Jackson said. “So that decision had to be made.”

This decision to proceed with surgery was particularly significant for Jackson, as her mother had faced a similar cardiac event.

“Before I was released from the hospital, they told me I was a miracle,” Jackson shared. “Then right after that, I had to learn how to walk again, stand on my own two feet.”

Weeks later, Jackson’s family participated in the American Heart Association Heart Walk.

“I said, ‘yes’, I want to go one mile,” Jackson said. “And when I do, I’m going to ring that bell and share my testimony. And that’s exactly what I did.”

Jackson and her family is now advocating for bystander CPR knowledge in the community.

According to the American Heart Association (AHA), more than 357,000 Americans experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital each year, and nearly 90% do not survive.

“I’m just hoping that what I’m passing down to my granddaughters, my daughter is to be brave,” Elizabeth said. “I just feel like our family has a purpose and a reason. And this is just one part of it.”

Jackson and her family are being honored at the Richmond Heart Ball on Saturday, April 12, recognizing their incredible story of survival and the power of CPR.

The American Red Cross offers CPR classes throughout Richmond and Virginia. Classes are scheduled and held in various locations. All classes are taught by expert instructors. Click here for more information.