New Jersey man reunites with hospital team that saved his life with marathon CPR session

Although there are no clear-cut guidelines for how long cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) should be continued, the most favorable neurological outcomes are achieved when CPR is started immediately, with a duration of 21-25 minutes.

Which makes Kyle Hewlett’s survival of a potentially fatal cardiac event in October 2023 all the more remarkable.

Hewlett, 24, was admitted to Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck, New Jersey in July after complaining of fatigue. He was diagnosed with myocarditis, or inflammation of his heart muscle, before his sudden cardiac arrest.

The 20-person critical care team performed a marathon CPR session that lasted a whopping 90 minutes!

"I just remember yelling 'Save my son! Save my son!' And they did. And I'm forever grateful," said Hewlett’s mother, Gina Gilmore.

CPR for that long is rare, but the care team was determined not to let Hewlett die.

Registered nurse and cardiac clinical coordinator Toni Whittaker held Hewlett’s hand and whispered encouragement as the doctors fought to keep his heart from giving up.

'We're here with you. We're not leaving you, trust us. We're going to make sure you get through this," Whittaker told him.

After several weeks in the ICU, Hewlett went home with a healthy heart and full of gratitude.

"I was fighting in my head to open my eyes, whatever I could do so they wouldn't give up on me. And they didn't give up on me, and I'm here today,” said Hewlett.