On Wednesday, Aug. 20, a remarkable display of community teamwork unfolded when members of Fairfield Medical Center and local resident Lydia Fratta, a staff member at the Family YMCA of Lancaster and Fairfield County, leapt into action to aid a neighbor in distress. Their swift response was powered by the innovative Avive AED (automated external defibrillator) system, which connects in real-time with emergency dispatch to alert nearby devices and trained users of a possible cardiac arrest.
In 2017, Laura Walters was asked if she wanted to do a simple cheek swab for DKMS, an international registry that connects stem cell donors with patients who need a transplant. After agreeing to the swab, Laura – a nursing student at the time – was told that her chance of matching with someone were less than 1 percent; however, if they did find a match, she could end up saving that person’s life.