What began as an ordinary Thursday afternoon at CEL (Center for Enriched Living) quickly became a life-threatening emergency. What happened next showed what preparation, teamwork and a community looking out for one another can make possible.

July 23 started like a regular day. CEL staff and members were in various parts of the building, enjoying REACH and Catalyst adult day programs. Longtime member Dan K. was participating in his afternoon program in the gym when he got up and walked into the hallway, something he does often.

A staff member noticed that Dan had turned in the opposite direction from his usual route and followed him into the staff lounge, where she found him helping himself to a piece of pizza left on the table. She asked him to throw it away and finish chewing, and they returned to the gym.

A short time later, Dan got up again and walked out of the gym, this time turning in his usual direction, but as he approached the front area of the building, he fell hard to the ground. At first, staff thought he might have tripped. Then they saw him shaking and turning blue. Dan lost consciousness.

CEL staff immediately called 911 and began lifesaving efforts. They worked to clear his airway and attempted abdominal thrusts. When those efforts were unsuccessful, staff began CPR and rescue breathing while others retrieved the AED and communicated with emergency dispatch.

Other CEL staff immediately began caring for the rest of the community. Members who had seen Dan fall were moved away from the scene, reassured and kept engaged in their activities. Staff cleared the area and directed visitors away from the emergency, creating the space arriving responders would need.

That response was the first link in Dan’s Chain of Survival.

At 1:27 p.m., two 911 calls reached the RED (Regional Emergency Dispatch) Center just 12 seconds apart. Dispatchers Becky McGillivray and Kelly Drew worked to keep the callers calm while gathering the information responders needed. The shift supervisor, Rachel Spaccapaniccia, relayed that information to responding crews and recognized that Endeavor Health MD1, Dr. Ben Feinzimer, was nearby on another call. She contacted him and directed him toward CEL.

Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District crew of Lt. Dave Benson, Ben Blonsky, and Cayden Hilgers arrived just three minutes after being dispatched, immediately taking over CPR and working to clear Dan’s airway. Deerfield-Bannockburn responders Deputy Chief Micah Montondo, Lt. Ken Schulman, Andrew Larson, Michael Long, and William Pauly arrived moments later.

Using specialized Magill forceps, responders removed a large piece of food from Dan’s airway. Dan remained unresponsive and had no detectable heart rhythm, so CPR continued. After approximately eight minutes, responders regained a pulse.

The teams continued working to stabilize Dan, with Dr. Feinzimer bringing advanced medical expertise, equipment and medications to the scene. Riverwoods Police Department officers also helped create a calm, controlled environment, providing space and support so emergency crews could focus on Dan.

After approximately 30 minutes on scene, Dan was transported to Highland Park Hospital. From the initial 911 call to his arrival at the emergency room, just 41 minutes had passed.

Dan survived. And then he made a remarkable recovery.

Dan’s father Paul shared what happened after the ambulance brought Dan to the hospital. Dan spent Thursday night in critical care, but by Sunday his ICU physician told his parents that he couldn’t remember seeing someone suffer a cardiac arrest on Thursday and be ready to go home so quickly. By Tuesday, Dan was home.

Dan is back at CEL today because a remarkable chain of people, preparation, expertise and collaboration came together when he needed it most.

The Deerfield-Bannockburn Fire Protection District recognized CEL staff as the “first links” in Dan’s Chain of Survival, noting that their immediate actions gave Dan a chance and provided the foundation for the emergency care that followed.

RED Center Dispatchers mobilized the response, recognized the urgency, and contacted MD1. CEL staff acted before responders arrived and protected the other members in the building. Firefighters and paramedics brought specialized equipment and training to clear Dan’s airway and regain a pulse. Police helped create the space and calm necessary for the response. MD1 provided advanced medical care at the scene. Hospital physicians and staff continued that care after Dan arrived. And social workers guided CEL staff and members through processing the traumatic event.

“Dan’s doing great,” Paul told the group gathered at CEL. “And that’s because you guys saved his life.”

For CEL, the story is a powerful reminder of why preparation matters. Training, emergency equipment and the systems that support them are part of caring for the people who come through CEL’s doors every day. Those investments are made possible in part through the generosity of CEL donors and supporters, and through the funding that emergency departments receive.

On July 23, it made a life-saving difference.

We are grateful to every person who answered the call, stepped forward, created space, provided care, or helped Dan take the next step toward coming home.

The People Behind Dan’s Life-Saving Chain

We are grateful to everyone who played a role in Dan’s rescue and recovery:

CEL (Center for Enriched Living)
Emerson Alban, Nicole Appleby, AJ Colcol, Dave Duran, Karen Fay, Melissa Juarez-Ehlers, Maggie Liston, Veronica Luna, Laura Oberdorf, Martina Platero, Asia Singleton, Cole Thompson, Judy Valladares, Brittany Williams, Lisette Zaid

RED Center
Kelly Drew, Becky McGillivray, Rachel Spaccapaniccia

Lincolnshire-Riverwoods Fire Protection District
Lt. Dave Benson, FF/PM Ben Blonsky, FF/PM Cayden Hilgers

Deerfield-Bannockburn Fire Protection District
Deputy Chief Micah Montondo, Lt. Ken Schulman, FF/PM Andrew Larson, FF/PM Michael Long, FF/PM William Pauly

Riverwoods Police Department

Endeavor Health MD1/Highland Park Hospital
Dr. Benjamin Feinzimer

Thank you for being part of Dan’s Chain of Survival.