“Are you a doctor?” A man asks UAB Pediatric Surgery Fellow Joseph Esparaz, M.D.
Esparaz had just completed a 12-hour shift on surgical call and was browsing the aisle of his local Whole Foods grocery store in his scrubs when a stranger approached him for help. Quickly, the stranger explained that another shopper had collapsed. They needed help, and they needed it now.
Esparaz confirmed that he was a doctor, and followed the good Samaritan to the scene of the collapse. In assessing the scene, Esparaz noted the man was responsive, however, he was in cardiac arrest and soon became unresponsive, not breathing or displaying a pulse.
Esparaz sprang into action, beginning CPR compressions. As he did, the Whole Foods store manager asked how he could help.
“I’m not sure how to help, I’ve never done this before,” said the manager. “But please just tell me what to do, and I will help.”
Though the Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS) placed a halt on breaths during CPR because of COVID-19, Esparaz still dug deep into his medical training to help the collapsed man.
With the paramedics now on scene, Esparaz brought them up to speed on the medical condition of the man and the treatment he provided, and the paramedics transported him to the hospital.
Several days later, a nurse approached Esparaz while he was on rounds in Children’s of Alabama. The nurse showed him description on Facebook of the incident and asked him if it was indeed him, since the family of the man was looking to connect with the doctor who helped him.
He confirmed that it was him, and the nurse asked if Esparaz would be comfortable connecting with the family– he was. Through the power of social media, Esparaz connected with the Whitehead family, who met up with Esparaz to thank him for his heroic support.
Esparaz notes that caring for Mr. Whitehead was simply what he was trained to do.
“As medical doctors and surgical residents at UAB, we are all trained to do this,” said Esparaz. “Whenever someone is in need, we should be expected to jump in if we can help. Ultimately, I wanted to fly below the radar because we do not do this for the thanks, but I am honored to have been able to support Mr. Whitehead.”
The Whitehead family took out an ad in the Birmingham Medical News that reads, “The Whitehead family would like to thank Dr. Joseph Esparaz of Children’s Hospital as well as Whole Foods manager Jason Stonicher and his staff for all they did to try to help save Kenneth Whitehead.”
“These were ordinary people going about their daily lives who did not hesitate to try and help save a life. We are truly thankful for their actions that morning, which brings us great comfort during this difficult time. You are true heroes.”