Her chance of survival – 'almost zero,' but San Diego patient saved by county pilot program

Her chance of survival – 'almost zero,' but San Diego patient saved by county pilot program

A year ago, Michelle Alvarado faced death, only to be saved by an extraordinary medical procedure. Recently, she marked that one-year anniversary with Nick Black, the National City Fire Department paramedic who made the right call and helped save her life. “I still feel like it didn’t happen to me,” said Alvarado, 41. Last May, when Alvarado experienced sudden cardiac arrest, Black made the critical decision to have her ambulance bypass the near…

Since she was a child, Maya Shetty knew she would be a doctor. She wanted to follow in the footsteps of her parents, both primary care physicians in West Virginia. And she wanted to use her future career to help underserved populations often left out of the medical system. So, as a first-year medical student at UC San Diego, she and five classmates jumped at the chance to volunteer for her university's new "Clean Slate" Free Tattoo Removal Progr…

In May 2024, Michelle suffered a sudden cardiac arrest. Instead of taking her to the nearest hospital, Black ordered her transfer directly to Sharp Memorial Hospital.

Local Mom Who Survived Cardiac Arrest for 86 Minutes Celebrates One Year Anniversary

A year ago, Michelle Alvarado faced death, only to be saved by an extraordinary medical procedure. Recently, she celebrated that one-year anniversary with Nick Black, the National City Fire Department paramedic who made the right call at the right time and helped save her life.