The police and ambulance soon responded and I was loaded into the ambulance where I was given a neb treatment before leaving my driveway. My husband, who has a pawn shop in the same building as my tax service, was contacted and he followed us to the hospital.

After I had been at the hospital about 40 minutes, the ER got crowded so my husband, Joe, left the room to give the medical personnel more room. At that point I was alert and talking but he described my tongue as being thick.

After about 25 minutes outside the ER door, he attempted to reenter and was told to get out. He glanced over at me and saw me lying on the table unconscious with only my bra on, blood on the pillow and a tube sticking out of my mouth. As he stood in the hallway, the paramedic who had transported me to the hospital was about to leave when he realized my husband was upset in the hallway. He entered the room and realize my fingertips and lips were blue and that the doctor had been unable to incubate me. He asked to help but received no response. He then just took over and on the first try was able to incubate me. When he looked at the heart monitor he realized I was then going into cardiac arrest. He looked for the doctor who was walking away and advised him I was going down. The doctor never tried to help me so the paramedic took over again and began chest compressions for 11 minutes until he got a carotid pulse.

I was then put on a ventilator and transferred to a larger hospital where I remained in a coma for 4 days. When I woke up, I had violent tremors, very little speech ability and would experience a seizure if I rolled to my left side. This went on for 3 weeks until I was discharged to a rehab hospital. After 5 1/2 weeks in rehab, I was again able to dress myself, feed myself, and go to the bathroom alone. I had also learned to transfer in and out of a wheelchair and could walk 75 feet with the use of a walker.

Now nearly 1 1/2 years later, I am driving, have completed another tax season and resumed as normal a life as possible. I will always remain in a wheelchair for the greater part of the time but I am alive to help raise my two children.

I owe my life to Riley Jagneaux, a paramedic who truly cared enough about me to save my life. My husband bought me a Boston Terrier puppy in October and we named her Rila after my guardian angel.

I also owe a great deal to my husband who has been there for me from day 1 and remains at my side. Without him I would not have survived. My two children deserve a huge pat on the shoulder for all the help they have given me and my family and friends have been there for through it all.

Most of all, I thank God every day for Joe walking into that room when he did and Riley for his courage to take over. If ever there were 2 men designated for heaven it is Joe Dale and Riley Jagneaux.

Email Patrice "Lenerdale" Dale