APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Graduation is a special event for any high school student. But one Xavier High School graduate is feeling especially lucky to have made it.
Tegan Geary said, “I’m really excited, I’m really happy.”
That’s not just because she survived high school classes.
Almost exactly one year ago, she survived a nearly fatal cardiac arrest. Tegan spoke to WLUK…
“Everything happens for a reason, and I know that I was here at Xavier for a reason” On the school’s soccer field, Tegan collapsed during a gym class. Her coach, and the principal stepped into action quickly.
Mike Mauthe, Xavier High School principal…
“We made the decision to administer CPR. I was actually responsible for getting the defibrillator hooked up.”
Tim Geary, Tegan’s dad, said they live right across the street from school and saw it happen.
“We could see her lying there from our house”
The work of the faculty on scene, as well as of the first responders and doctors, narrowly saved her life.
Tegan woke up in the hospital several days later.
“When I was first able to talk to my parents, I said, I think the progression of questions in pretty rapid succession, was, ‘What day is it? Am I going to die? And did I get an A in trig?’”
Mauthe said that was a big moment.
“The moment that we got the news, and to be truthful, it was the trig question that got us too, it was an incredibly joy-filled moment”
Now 18-years-old and ready to tackle college, Tegan and those close to her say they’re not taking any moment for granted.
“Making every second count and doing the stuff you want to do when you can is very important”
Tim Geary said, “You never know what’s going to happen today.”
Especially not the moment she walks across the graduation stage.
Mauthe says… “It’s going to be so great to watch her walk across the stage. It’s so great that she’s with us, and I’m glad our community has gotten to enjoy all four years of her influence and her leadership.”
According to the American Heart Association, only ten percent of people who go into cardiac arrest outside the hospital survive.
Since Geary’s incident, Xavier has retrained its faculty and staff to know how to use defibrillators… and do CPR.
