‘It’s a Miracle’: Sentara Cardiologist Saves Driver After Heart Attack and Crash
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A Virginia Beach man says he owes his life to both divine intervention and the fast response of a nearby cardiologist after suffering a massive heart attack that caused him to crash his car.
Sudden Heart Attack on the Road
Jeff Geraci, 64, had just finished a workout at an Orange Theory Fitness when he began feeling unwell. Though he initially considered resting in his car, he decided to drive home. Moments later, he suffered a heart attack while traveling down First Colonial Road, veering across lanes before colliding with a roadside business sign.
Cardiologist Steps In
By chance, the crash happened near the medical office of Dr. Deepak Talreja, Sentara Health’s chief of cardiology. Talreja sprinted from his office to the wrecked car.
“When I got to your car, what I saw was the windshield was shattered and your airbags were deployed,” he recalled. “You weren’t breathing, and you didn’t have a pulse — sudden cardiac death. But fortunately, we got things restarted very quickly”.
Talreja emphasized that if Geraci had gone more than eight minutes without CPR, he likely would not have survived.
A Family History of Heart Disease
Geraci, a financial planner, believed his active lifestyle shielded him from his family’s history of heart issues. “My father had two heart attacks. My mother died of a heart attack… I’ve been an athlete since I was 14 years old. I thought it’s not going to happen to me,” he said.
Now, he calls his survival a miracle. “God was there, and thank God Dr. Talreja was there,” Geraci shared. “I got an opportunity to come back, so there’s got to be a reason.”
A New Lease on Life
Since the incident, Geraci has returned to exercising, adopted a new diet, and quit drinking. He says he now spends his mornings reflecting on how to be a better husband, father, and friend.
“I try to make everybody smile every day,” he said. “It’s wonderful. I mean, it’s a miracle.”
Stories like Geraci’s highlight the importance of knowing family history and monitoring heart health. Do you believe more awareness campaigns should focus on hidden heart risks for seemingly healthy people? Share your thoughts with us at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
