KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Thanksgiving is right around the corner and Research Medical Center is celebrating by hearing the “thank you” stories of former trauma patients.
Back in August FOX 4 told viewers about Lori Jones, a local woman whose heart stopped in the Raytown Drivers Examination Office. Then two trained workers revived her. Wednesday they meet again.
“The day of, I really don’t remember,” said 43-year-old Jones.
It was July 31. Jones was running errands like any other day, until she took her son to the Driver Examination Office in Raytown.
“I didn’t even realize, waking up in the hospital, how long I had been in there,” Jones said.
Jones attended Research Medical Center’s Great Save Thanksgiving Celebration Wednesday, where trauma patients like Jones, and first responders were reunited.
“Everybody told me, my mom, I got the story from FOX 4, and got informed with that, but I did not know what happened,” said Jones.
Jones, who has heart problems, collapsed in the Driver Examination Office about three months ago from sudden cardiac arrest. On Wednesday, she was reunited with the two women who she says saved her life.
“Just recently we had our CPR training, like the week before, so everything happens for a reason good or bad,” said Jurrell Vance.
Vance and Chichota Watson were the two employees who performed CPR on Jones.
“I’m just happy we were there when she needed us,” said Watson.
Jones says their quick actions are why she’s still here today.
“I just wanted them to know that not everybody that they work on resuscitates. Some people do, and I was just one of the ones that did, and I just wanted to tell them thank you,” Jones said.
Jones regained consciousness in the ICU two weeks later, and after two surgeries and a total hospital stay of 23 days, she was strong enough to go home.
“Really slowing down, appreciating every day,” said Jones. “Life is precious.”
Jones, Watson and Vance started out as strangers, but now they see each other quite often.
“They’re family now,” said Watson. “They’re family.”
“I’m glad that she pulled through, not only for her, but for her kids,” added Vance.
Vance and Watson say people recognize them when they come into the office now, and remind them they saved someone’s life.
“We’re not heroes,” Vance said. “We just did what we were supposed to do.”
They say they were just doing their job, but Jones says it’s always a good reminder to tell people “thank you.”
“Sometimes you just gotta hear it,” said Jones.
Jones says she’s feeling much better, but says she still has a long way to go.
She also said besides Vance and Watson, there were several other employees, EMS crews, doctors and nurses at Research Medical Center, who played a huge part in her care, recovery and ability to celebrate this Thanksgiving.
