Cardiac arrest can happen in a second. And in that moment, every second can mean the difference between life and death. That was the reality for Mark Sackley.
What began as an ordinary workday quickly became a fight for his life. Just minutes into a meeting, Mark collapsed without warning. He was rushed to St Vincent’s Hospital and shocked eighteen times to restart his heart.
Mark was placed on a lifesaving ECMO machine that pumped blood through his body, giving his heart the chance to rest and recover. He spent almost two weeks in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), receiving constant monitoring and around the clock care.
Will you help us raise $332,000 to equip our Intensive Care Units with the latest ultrasound equipment?
Ultrasound machines play a critical role in our ICUs, supporting a wide range of critical care situations. For people suffering cardiac arrest, they give us a real-time view of the heart – essential for a quick diagnosis to receive lifesaving treatment.
Today, we urgently need to upgrade to the latest equipment across both Intensive Care Units at St Vincent’s Hospital and St Vincent’s Private Hospital Sydney.
For heart patients, outdated equipment can mean the difference between life and death. When every second counts, cutting-edge technology delivers faster diagnoses and better outcomes.
Upgrading to the latest bedside ultrasounds will mean clearer, more accurate imaging – when it matters most.
After six weeks in hospital, Mark was finally strong enough to return home.
For Mark and Pip, the care he received has helped them hold on to what matters most, as Pip shared: “Mark has seen his youngest daughter get married. He’s seen his grandchild come into the world. We’ve celebrated his 60th birthday, and six more wedding anniversaries since.”
With your support, we can continue caring for thousands of ICU patients each year, from cardiac emergencies to lifesaving surgeries.