Casselberry nurse grateful to be alive after suffering cardiac arrest on basketball court

Casselberry nurse grateful to be alive after suffering cardiac arrest on basketball court

Casselberry, Fla. – “I’m just grateful to be alive. I’m grateful for AdventHealth.”

That’s how 32-year-old nurse Randy Rahming describes his outlook after surviving sudden cardiac arrest during a basketball game this summer.

Randy’s love for basketball started long before he realized the game would one day save his life. Born and raised in Jamaica, he moved to Central Florida with big dreams and a passion for staying active. Before long, Wednesday nights were reserved for playing basketball with friends at Forest Lake Academy in Apopka.

One of those nights, the game felt like any other. Randy made a basket, hustled back on defense, then suddenly stopped in his tracks. Without warning, his body gave out and he collapsed on the court.

“The next thing I know, I was waking up on a hospital stretcher,” he recalled. “The doctor told me I had a heart attack. It literally brings me to tears when I think about how everything lined up and how fast my friends were to react because when your heart isn’t beating, every second counts.”

That night, two medical professionals were among the players - Dr. Matthew Dalley, an emergency physician at AdventHealth Waterman, and Ronaldo Green, a physician assistant at another health care organization in Orlando. Both immediately sprang into action.

“The first thing we did was run over to Randy and start assessing him,” recalls Dalley. “I asked some of his closest friends if they knew of any health conditions he might have. We started CPR right away and told the others present to call 911 immediately.”

“At first, I thought maybe he was having a seizure, but then I realized no one really knew his medical history. That’s when Dr. Dalley was already checking his pulse and I started searching the gym for an automated external defibrillator (AED), said Green.

At the time of the game, no one realized Randy had a heart condition. He’d been taking blood pressure medication and, by all accounts, was doing well.

Green found the AED in the gym’s entryway. “After I got back with it, I applied the pads and immediately started compressions. I think I got through one round before the AED delivered a shock,” he said. “It was like Dr. Dalley and I had done this before. We trusted each other, we knew what needed to be done, and we did it.”

“The AED played a huge role in saving his life. When someone goes into cardiac arrest outside the hospital, you really don’t have many options. You have chest compressions and you have an AED. Those are the two most important things. They keep the body perfusing and help protect the organs as much as possible. I truly believe the AED was crucial and made a significant difference in saving his life” added Dalley.

Their rapid response saved Randy’s life. Paramedics transported him to AdventHealth Altamonte Springs, where he began his recovery. For Green, it was also deeply personal. “Randy is the perfect picture of health. To see someone like him collapse it just gives you a deeper appreciation for life.”

Later that night, Green and Dalley visited Randy in the hospital. On the way there, they couldn’t stop thinking about how fortunate it was that they had been there at that exact moment. “It’s a reminder that life is precious and that none of us should ever take it for granted,” Green said.

“The most important thing to me is that he’s doing so well. He’s made a full recovery, has no deficits, and is fully functional. That’s a miracle in my eyes,” said Dalley. “I’ve seen so many codes where people don’t make it, so to see him come through this is truly a blessing. Ultimately, I give all the glory to God. I’m just grateful and humbled to have been His hands and feet in that moment, and I’m so thankful Randy is doing well.”

The experience has left a lasting mark on Randy, who is now taking classes to apply to medical school with the goal of becoming a cardiologist.

“I’ve learned that life is short, and you never know when the unexpected can happen,” he said. “I’m here today only because of God, honestly. And I’m just so grateful to have so many people there to help me when I really needed it.”

Months after the terrifying night on the basketball court, Randy stood side by side with the people who helped save his life. At a ceremony held by the Seminole County Fire Department, he embraced Dr. Dalley, Sy Gillmore (who also provided aid to Randy) and the Station 13 team as they received their Life Saving Awards. The moment was filled with emotion, gratitude and applause, a celebration of courage, faith and the power of community coming together in an instant when it mattered most