Austin Man Meets Round Rock Nurse Who Saved His Life

Round Rock TX

27 October, 2021

12:38 PM

Description

ROUND ROCK, TX — When Rod Glasper collapsed at an H-E-B store in September, he never expected it could be his last moment. While shopping, the 62-year-old's heart suddenly stopped beating due to a ventricular fibrillation arrest. The rapid, life-threatening heart rhythm, which was triggered by a heart attack, can lead to death without immediate medical attention. Fortunately, Lily DeVarona, an off-duty nurse, saw Glasper and came to his aid. For 15 minutes, she performed life-saving CPR on him before medics arrived. Live in Round Rock? Click here to subscribe to our free breaking news alerts delivered to your inbox and mobile devices. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and download our free mobile app on Android or iPhone. On Friday, Glasper had the chance to meet his 64-year-old hero in-person in front of St. David's Round Rock Medical Center. "How do you say thank you to someone who saved your life?" asked Glasper, who lives in Austin."This lady gave me more time with my family, gave me more time with my friends. What she did was grant time to a stranger. And that I am very thankful for." DeVarona, who works in the recovery room at St. David's Surgical Hospital in North Austin, said Friday that she was getting some last-minute snacks for a University of Texas football game at an H-E-B on RM 620 in Round Rock when she saw Glasper lying in an aisle. The Round Rock resident determined he wasn't breathing, so she immediately started CPR on him by doing chest compressions with her hands, she said. DeVarona said that when she left the grocery store, she didn't even know if Glasper, who was a stranger to her, was going to survive because she wanted to give arriving paramedics room to do their work. But thanks to her quick action, Glasper was able to get a pacemaker to prevent future V-Fib arrests and did not suffer severe medical complications. "It just goes to show that CPR does work," she said Friday. "What I want to get out is that more people should get certified in CPR." DeVarona, who was previously chosen as the 2021 nurse of the year at St. David's Surgical Hospital, was also recognized on Friday for her efforts by St. David's Round Rock Medical Center with the hospital's challenge coin. Karlye Marburger, director of emergency services at St. David's Round Rock Medical Center, presented her with the coin. "On behalf of St. David's Round Rock Medical Center, I'd like to present Lily with this challenge coin. Lily exemplifies St. David's ICARE values (Integrity; Compassion; Accountability; Respect; Excellence.) both inside the hospital and in the community," Marbuger said on Friday. To show his appreciation, Glasper also presented Devarona with a bouquet of flowers while showering her with many thanks. "It almost feels like nothing ever happened to me; but I know it did," Glasper said. "I guess what I have to do to say thank you is to save someone else's life."