I would like to share a story from "a day in my life" so that I can potentially save someone else’s. I am the mother of three incredibly adorable girls, Mackenzie (5), Chase (3), and Abigail (11 months). On August 28, 2005, the day after I arrived home from the hospital with my new baby girl, I almost lost my second daughter, Chase, to a near drowning incident. What should have been a great fishing adventure with her dad and grandfather turned into near tragedy, prevented by several miracles along with the quick response of my husband and his education in Infant/Child CPR and Choking Manuevers.

The smartest decision I made while I was pregnant with my first child Mackenzie, was enrolling my husband and me in an optional infant CPR course for $120 offered by my OB-GYN. After living through this terrifying ordeal and what could have been the end of our perfect life, we realized that we were given a second chance. We are so thankful and knew that we wanted to share our experience and give back to our community.

I began by organizing and hosting a "cocktail clinic" with 30 family, friends and neighbors just a few days after our daughter was released from the intensive care unit. The EMTs responsible for responding to Chase's incident volunteered their time by giving a crash course on how to sustain a life until help arrives. With a renewed sense of confidence, knowing we "gave back," I raised two thousand dollars on behalf of the Little Silver EMS Squad. I realized the impact just one night could have on so many people and decided to take things to the next level. I started C.H.A.S.E. for Life hoping to give CPR and Choking Maneuver education a user-friendly facelift by modernizing its look while simultaneously creating universal appeal. I want to make this a hot topic... You are "in the know" if you know what to do!.

Through the support and encouragement of our community, family and friends, I started C.H.A.S.E. for Life, a nonprofit organization, created to educate and raise awareness in communities throughout the country.