Hardin Simmons Student Alive Thanks to Fast-Acting Responders
By: Victor Sotelo
Updated: May 23, 2011
It's a story of rescue and survival.
Michaela Stewart, 21, was set to walk the stage at the Hardin Simmons University graduation and later that night watch her brother get married.
But she couldn't do any of that because the night before, she was found on the side of the road in her vehicle unconscious and not breathing.
Michaela was found on the side of the road just off Industrial Boulevard in East Abilene.
"Her lips were blue and she did not appear to be breathing."
Sergeant Katona explained what one of his officers, Officer Jennings, did when he found Michaela, called for an ambulance and back up.
"When his backup officer arrived, at that point they decided that she needed immediate first aid, they then made entry into the vehicle by breaking out the window," explained Sgt. Katona. "At that point there were a few of us on scene and she was pulled out of the vehicle and we began CPR."
A parent's worst nightmare, Michaela's mother said she received a text from her daughter earlier that day and just a few minutes later she drifted into the median of the mostly untraveled road.
"It (her car) came to a rest, the car was still in gear but friction had stopped it," said Ernest Moscarelli, a friend of the family and APD officer. "I believe that someone above us, God himself, was watching over her that evening".
"It was later diagnosed that it was a virus that caused this heart damage," explained Moscarelli.
Michaela is now in the hospital, unable to talk, but alive. Her parents say it is due to the quick response of the police officers and fire department and other first responders.
"The first responders were there quickly, we thank God that Officer Jennings was close by, we thank God that MetroCare was there, the fire department was there."
Michaela is still in the hospital and has a long road in front of her. But even though she is unable to talk, she is still communicating with her family.
"Them just talking to her and asking her questions and letting her know they are there, and her blinking her eyes once meaning yes and twice meaning no. It is a way of communicating, and that alone is encouraging.
Encouraging not only to the family, but to those who saved her life.
"We had almost convinced ourselves it was a bad call, so that made all of us smile for the rest of the night," said Sgt. Katona.
Michaela's family tells us she is being moved to a facility in Fort Worth for further treatment.
Michaela Stewart, 21, was set to walk the stage at the Hardin Simmons University graduation and later that night watch her brother get married.
But she couldn't do any of that because the night before, she was found on the side of the road in her vehicle unconscious and not breathing.
Michaela was found on the side of the road just off Industrial Boulevard in East Abilene.
"Her lips were blue and she did not appear to be breathing."
Sergeant Katona explained what one of his officers, Officer Jennings, did when he found Michaela, called for an ambulance and back up.
"When his backup officer arrived, at that point they decided that she needed immediate first aid, they then made entry into the vehicle by breaking out the window," explained Sgt. Katona. "At that point there were a few of us on scene and she was pulled out of the vehicle and we began CPR."
A parent's worst nightmare, Michaela's mother said she received a text from her daughter earlier that day and just a few minutes later she drifted into the median of the mostly untraveled road.
"It (her car) came to a rest, the car was still in gear but friction had stopped it," said Ernest Moscarelli, a friend of the family and APD officer. "I believe that someone above us, God himself, was watching over her that evening".
"It was later diagnosed that it was a virus that caused this heart damage," explained Moscarelli.
Michaela is now in the hospital, unable to talk, but alive. Her parents say it is due to the quick response of the police officers and fire department and other first responders.
"The first responders were there quickly, we thank God that Officer Jennings was close by, we thank God that MetroCare was there, the fire department was there."
Michaela is still in the hospital and has a long road in front of her. But even though she is unable to talk, she is still communicating with her family.
"Them just talking to her and asking her questions and letting her know they are there, and her blinking her eyes once meaning yes and twice meaning no. It is a way of communicating, and that alone is encouraging.
Encouraging not only to the family, but to those who saved her life.
"We had almost convinced ourselves it was a bad call, so that made all of us smile for the rest of the night," said Sgt. Katona.
Michaela's family tells us she is being moved to a facility in Fort Worth for further treatment.
