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McAlisterville man beats odds, reunites with those who saved his life

Submitted photo Sidney Freyermuth (fourth from left) and his wife, Marylinda, met with Dr. William Apollo (from left), UMPC cardiologist, Krista Rodney, Keith Finton and Joel Hocking, all first responders from LifeTeam EMS of Harrisburg.

MCALISTERVILLE — A grateful and joyous reunion that was four years in the making, Sidney Freyermuth finally got the chance to meet the first responders who saved his life.

The McAlisterville man went into cardiac arrest on June 24, 2019, while working at the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection in Harrisburg. Through the quick actions of his fellow co-workers, doctors at UPMC Harrisburg hospital and responding EMTs, Freyermuth is alive.

“Doctors told me I became a member of the one percent club,” the 65-year-old Freyermuth said after meeting his saviors on Friday, Feb. 24 at the UPMC hospital. “Ninety-nine percent of people who have this cardiac arrest don’t survive.”

Fortunately, when Freyermuth went into cardiac arrest his co-workers dialed 9-1-1 immediately and started performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR. When the first responders arrived, he had defibrillated twice.

Freyermuth was quickly transported to UPMC Harrisburg, where Dr. William Apollo, UPMC cardiologist, treated him. The hospital is located a few blocks away from the Rachel Carson State Office Building where Freyermuth works.

The quick actions of everyone involved saved Freyermuth’s life. He has now made a full recovery.

“They told me I was clinically dead for seven minutes,” Freyermuth said.

“They (first responders) deserve to be members because they succeeded where the odds were against them.”

One of Freyermuth’s bucket list items was to meet the members of the team who saved his life. That finally happened on Friday as he and his wife, Marylinda, got to meet three of the four responders: Krista Rodkey, Keith Finton and Joel Hocking of LifeTeam Emergency Medical Services of Harrisburg.

Apollo was also present at the event. The pandemic delayed the reunion a bit. Freyermuth is just glad it happened.

“Earlier last fall, I had reached out to the ambulance crew at UPMC, and it turned into this event,” Freyermuth said. “It was quite emotional for me. If it wasn’t for this team, I wouldn’t be here talking today.”

Freyermuth gave each of the first responders a commemorative “Challenge” coin in recognition of special achievement by the first responders.

Despite the responders’ quick response, he was still placed in a medically induced coma for nearly four weeks. “It was touch and go at that time,” Freyermuth said.

After he was out of danger, he spent about two weeks in physical rehabilitation.

He was finally able to return to work around Labor Day. While he is glad to be back in familiar surroundings – having worked for the government for 29 years – he will never forget that fateful day.

“I was at work getting ready for a meeting,” Freyermuth recalled. “I stood up from my chair and that’s the last thing I remember.”

Since then, Freyermuth has been living a healthier lifestyle, losing 80 pounds. He will be forever grateful for those who gave him a second chance at life.

“Before I go to bed each night, I pray to see the next day,” he explained. “I plan on being around for quite a while.”

He and Marylinda were best friends in high school and have been married 22 years. They have two children and three grandchildren.

His wife is a former EMT and religiously watches many of those old television shows with responders.

Despite his new-found respect for first responders, Freyermuth can’t watch any scenes showing CPR. It causes painful flashbacks.

He did learn from watching those shows that he is a very lucky man. “They only really do it twice and pronounce you dead,” Freyermuth cautioned of the first responders using an automated external defibrillator, or AED. “They shocked me three times and didn’t give up. They went above and beyond.

“I have a lot more respect for first responders now than I did before,” he added. “They don’t get the credit that they deserve.”

Freyermuth was also saved by circumstance. He might not have made it if his cardiac arrest had happened at home. “I was at the hospital within four minutes. That wouldn’t have happened if I had been home.”

He also used the opportunity to speak out for more funding for the first responders, including the Fayette Fire Co. and the Fayette Township EMS.

Freyermuth plans to make a donation to the Peyton Walker Foundation, based in Camp Hill. The foundation is one of the country’s prominent heart screening advocates and leaders in providing CPR and AED training and equipment donations.

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