Mystery nurse helps save man after possible seizure in Tewksbury

TEWKSBURY, Mass. — They don’t know who she is or where she came from, but Lisa and Mark Paradis are just grateful a nurse was on hand, when their long-time friend -- identified as ‘Tom’ -- suffered a medical emergency while en route to visit the couple.

Tom’s brother told the couple he pulled into the Wal-Mart Supercenter parking lot on Main Street and called 9-1-1, after Tom slumped to the dashboard Wednesday afternoon -- and seemed to have stopped breathing.

“And while he was still on the phone with 9-1-1, a police officer responded,” Lisa said. “And right behind the police officer was a nurse. She just got out of her car and said, “I’m a nurse” and started doing CPR -- her and the officer.”

In fact, Tewksbury Police thanked the nurse for her help on social media -- the posts noting that in the heat of the moment, they didn’t catch her name.

In fact, no one did.

“The EMTs showed up and they put him in an ambulance, and while they were doing that the nurse just left,” Lisa said. “So we have no idea who she is. But we want to thank her. We want her to get the recognition she deserves.”

By coming to Tom’s assistance, Lisa said that nurse did something many others wouldn’t have.

“Most people are more apt to pull out their cellphones and videotape what’s going on instead of stepping up to help,” she said. “Without her being in the right place at the right time, things might be different.”

Lisa reports Tom was released from the hospital Wednesday night, but is undergoing testing to find out what went wrong. She posted her thanks to Facebook, but wouldn’t mind doing it in person, too.

“We want her to step forward just so we can shake her hand, give a hug, just give a thank you to let us know we appreciate what you did,” Lisa said. “We both suffered a lot of losses. This would have been one more too many and we’re very thankful.”

“Sometimes, you don’t get that lucky, you know,” said Mark Paradis. “Who’s to know what would have happened if they didn’t show up and when they did. So I appreciate that. "

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