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Marc Keralla knew he didn’t have much time left to prepare before taking a shot at his goal. An avid cyclist for 25 years, he’d soon be on his way to St. George, Utah to compete in the Huntsman World Senior Games.

At least that was his plan, anyway.

On Aug. 29, 2016, the Dallas business executive wasn’t feeling his best, but he still made time for a workout at a cycling studio in Richardson. Then it happened.

Carey Cribbs,M.D., an emergency room physician at Cook Children’s Medical Center, had just finished the same workout. Preparing for an Ironman triathlon, she was about to leave the studio for a run when she heard someone yelling.

“I heard ‘Dr. Cribbs, I need you!’” she said. “When I walked out of the locker room, I saw him on the ground.”

Dr. Cribbs says the coach, Richard Wharton, was already on the phone with 911. They knew first responders were on the way, but needed to start CPR immediately.

“I didn’t feel a pulse so I asked Richard if he’d rather do chest compressions or rescue breathing. He said chest compressions, which was good because I’m only 5 feet tall.”

For several minutes, they worked together to keep Marc’s lungs moving and blood pumping until the Richardson Fire Department arrived.

“When the firemen walked in, it was like ‘the cavalry is here!’” said Dr. Cribbs.

The entire ordeal lasted less than 10 minutes, but Dr. Cribbs says it was a totally humbling experience.

“I’ve been an emergency room physician at Cook Children’s for 28 years, but I have never performed CPR out of the hospital before,” said Dr. Cribbs. “It really makes you appreciate our first responders and the things they do to save lives. I’m used to having everything in perfect order and they’re doing this on kitchen floors and parking lots.”

After a shock from a defibrillator, first responders were able to regain Marc’s pulse. He was rushed to the hospital and underwent a quadruple bypass four days later. He says he’s thankful for Dr. Cribbs, his coach and the first responders.

“I later found out that scar tissue from a stent I had put in led to a blockage. I was a ticking time bomb,” said Marc. “It could have happened anywhere. Thank God it happened where it did.”

Marc has since made a full recovery and is back to cycling. In fact, he’s racing in the Dallas Senior Games next week.

On Feb. 10, he was able to share his story with the audience at an award ceremony honoring Dr. Cribbs and Richard Wharton. The Richardson Fire Department gave the two civilian awards for their quick, life-saving action.

Dr. Cribbs says she’d advise everyone to learn CPR.

“It does work. It saves lives and you never know whose life might be next.”

As for Marc, he says it has been a slow process to get his fitness back to the level it was, but he’s still hoping to win the race in Utah one day.

He also hopes he can help others prevent what happened to him.

“Listen to your body. If something is not right, see your doctor.”

“Prom, graduation and end-of-the-school-year parties are exciting times for teens,” said Lisa Elliott, Ph.D., licensed psychologist and clinic manager with Cook Children’s Denton Behavioral Health. “Parents have a right to know their teen’s plans and to find out whether alcohol or drugs will play a part.”

Having discussions with your teen about drinking and sex can be difficult, so don’t wait until he or she is slipping into formal wear. Let your son or daughter know that safety and trust are very important to you and you want him or her to make smart decisions.

“As teens firm up their prom plans, parents should get a detailed itinerary of exactly where they’ll be throughout the night and get any emergency numbers they might need,” Elliott said. “This includes the numbers for adults in charge of after parties or post-prom activities. Parents and teens need to be informed, and the more informed you are, the better! Teens can create safe, happy, lasting memories just by opening up the dialogue and making smart plans."

Elliott suggests the following checklist to make sure your teen’s prom is memorable for all the right reasons:

1. Get those digits. This includes the numbers of a friend’s house or the after party at a local venue. Make sure you have any contact numbers and addresses you might need. Make sure the cell is charged up for the night.
2. Know the code. Let your teen know to call you at any time, especially if he or she is in an uncomfortable situation. Decide on a code word or phrase ahead of time so your teen won’t be embarrassed if he or she needs to call.
3. Offer street-smart tips. This could be the first “adult-like” event your teen attends without your presence. Talk about things that can happen – from getting a wallet or cell phone stolen to having a drug slipped in his or her drink – and discuss what to do if the teen makes a bad choice to drink or experiences a problem.
4. Play the name game. Know who your teen will be with. If your teen has a date, call his or her parents and talk about your children’s plans for the night so you will all be on the same page.
5. Take driving out of the equation. Many teens may want to drive themselves to the prom, but hiring a limo can be a great way to keep your teen from getting behind the wheel and make the prom more memorable. If your teen is going in a group, ask the other parents if they would be interested in splitting the cost. If your teen does drive, remind him or her to wear a seatbelt and to not get in a car with anyone who has been drinking.