Minutes that Mattered Most

As Kelly watched a game a voice called from the tower for Kelly. She wondered if her husband, Dennie, needed help with the scoring, and realized she had never been up in the tower before.  Once Kelly arrived at the scoring tower, she was pointed to an AED sitting on the counter. That is when she knew something serious was happening.

The rhythm of the afternoon forever changed. Jeff had collapsed. Kelly moved quickly but calmly. “The AED is about to analyze," she told those around her, meaning that the device is checking the person’s heart rhythm to determine if a shockable, life-threatening condition is present. As Kelly helped bring Jeff to the ground with her husband, Dennie, the AED delivered a shock while Dennie began CPR. According to Kelly, “two minutes of CPR is a really long time”. Kelly also shared that It had been a while since she had done CPR on a real person, saying “but once you start, your training takes over.”

Kelly and Dennie continued through cycles of CPR and shocks. Then Jeff began to move and said his wife’s name, “Cindy.” That was the moment Kelly knew he was alive. 

There was no time to celebrate as Kelly and Dennie stayed focused on providing critical care. Later, while reflecting on the weight of what had happened, it finally settled in. “That was a save,” Kelly said. “And it was because the AED was there and we acted.”

Kelly does not see the moment as heroic. She sees it as training put into motion. “It does not have to be perfect to make a big impact,” she said. “Jeff did not care if my CPR was perfect. He cared that we were willing to try.” She credits her education and years of practice for keeping her steady, and says that all her training was still there; it was instinctive.

The experience has deepened Kelly’s commitment to community advocacy. She believes that if you collapse outside a hospital, your chances of surviving are slim. “Every minute matters. The people around you are the ones who can change the outcome.” She believes CPR and AED training should be more accessible and practiced more often. According to Kelly, people are afraid of doing it wrong, but she believes you have to get over that because the person on the ground needs you to try.

As a Duquesne alum, Kelly carries forward the values she learned as a student. She believes nurses lead not only in clinical spaces but also in everyday places where life unfolds.

The story did not end there. Jeff was honored as a resident survivor, and Kelly and Dennie were recognized by state and local leaders*. What mattered most to Kelly was not the recognition but the opportunity to raise awareness of CPR and AED training in the community.

Jeff and Cindy even gifted the Llewellyn’s their own ZOLL AED as a personal thank you, so they can always be prepared!

For Kelly, recognition isn't about the spotlight. “If this helps even one more person get trained or notice where the AED is, then it is worth it,” she said.