Illinois Doctor Saves Life at Walt Disney World!
An Illinois doctor’s quick thinking saved the life of a teen at Disney this week.
Dr. Jeffrey Schiappa, a family medicine physician who practices in Orland Park, was visiting Disney Hollywood Studios when he noticed a group of teen girls crying on a bench.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
He saw a young woman on the ground and immediately took action.
Dr. Jeffrey Schiappa
Dr. Shiappa shared his story with Wane.com, noting that as soon as he saw the teen, he took action:
I saw a young woman on the ground, not moving. I checked her pulse, and it was irregular. We found an AED; Disney has them everywhere.
I had never used one before, but the device walks you through it. I shocked her once, her body jumped, but nothing happened. The device told me to shock her again, and this time she started moving, but didn’t wake up.
Paramedics arrived shortly after, and the doctor’s son learned additional information about the girl. They were on a band trip from Pennsylvania and had contacted the girl’s parents, who confirmed she was not taking any prescription medication or had any health conditions.
The teen coded twice more in the ambulance on the way to the hospital and again after being admitted to the hospital.
(Photo: Silver Cross Hospital)
The 17-year-old was diagnosed with long QT syndrome. This is a heart rhythm disorder that causes fast, chaotic heartbeats.
The condition affects electrical signals that travel through the heart and cause it to beat. Dr. Schiappa confirmed that a pacemaker was immediately implanted at the hospital.
Tower of Terror
Wane.com reported that the teenager is now doing very well, and she was very grateful to the doctor for stepping in to help.
Dr. Schiappa and his family enjoyed the rest of their Disney vacation and were happy to step in to assist.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Stay tuned, and be sure to follow along with us at MickeyBlog to stay updated on this and all things Disney.
Thanks for visiting MickeyBlog! Want to go to Disney? For a FREE quote on your next Disney vacation, please fill out the form below and one of the agents from MickeyTravels, a Diamond-level Authorized Disney Vacation Planner, will be in touch soon! Thank you!
Article Source/Feature Photos: Wane.com/ Silver Cross Hospital)
