Off-Duty Nurse Saves Woman's Life at Vegas Hockey Game

A fun night at the Vegas Golden Knights game turned into a medical emergency when Jeannie Cunningham suddenly collapsed in the stands. But a nurse sitting nearby sprang into action, performed CPR, and saved her life.

Cunningham was watching the game with her friend Linda Fucci when she felt unusually tired after the first period. Moments later, she collapsed on the arena steps, unresponsive and struggling to breathe.

Registered nurse Susie Teems was sitting just a few rows away, enjoying the game like everyone else. When she saw Cunningham fall, her training kicked in immediately.

"Then Superwoman came, jumped over fans, and she was the CPR," Fucci recalled. Teems assessed Cunningham quickly and realized she was in cardiac arrest with agonal breathing and no pulse.

Without hesitation, Teems began performing CPR while others searched for an automated external defibrillator. She kept Cunningham alive with continuous chest compressions until the AED arrived, buying precious time that made all the difference.

Cunningham was rushed to the hospital, where doctors confirmed she had experienced cardiac arrest. She made a full recovery, and both she and Fucci wanted desperately to find the woman who saved her life.

Fucci posted a simple thank you message on Facebook, and Teems saw it. "I said, well, give her my number. I want to talk to her," Teems explained.

When the three women finally reunited, it was an emotional celebration of life and friendship. Teems even brought Cunningham a new Golden Knights jersey to replace the one torn during CPR that night.

The Ripple Effect

This story reminds us that immediate CPR can double or even triple a person's chance of survival after cardiac arrest, according to the American Heart Association. Nurses carry their lifesaving training everywhere they go, ready to help whether they're on duty or enjoying a night out.

"Come to a person's aid because you can do something to help another person," Cunningham said. "The gratitude that I have for them from the depths of my heart, from my working heart now."

A single moment of courage created a bond between three women that will last forever.