ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – They helped save the life of a man who collapsed inside of one of Albuquerque’s senior centers. Now, two city workers are getting special recognition for their heroics. “I knew something was wrong,” said Kim Sears, Senior Member at the Palo Duro Senior Center.
It was August 16 at the Palo Duro Senior Center near Comanche and San Mateo when 66-year-old Kim Sears, or “Kimbo”, was having trouble breathing. “So, I got up and was walking through the hallway when David just met me, he just happened to be walking this way towards me, and first thing he said was “Are you okay?’. ‘No, I don’t feel good,’ he says ‘Well let’s sit down’. I never made it to the chair,” said Sears.
No one knew it but a clot had quickly stopped the blood flow to Sears’ heart. “At that time, he was fading fast. And then all of a sudden, he was in a chair, and he just dropped,” said David Goode, Manager at Palo Duro Senior Center.
Goode took action starting chest compressions while another employee, Manuel Ibuado, called 911. Before Ibuado could use an AED machine, Sears came to. When Sears was asked if he believed that they saved his life, he responded “Yes!”
Sears is well on his way to making a full recovery after a three-day stay in the hospital. Within the week he was back at the senior center ready to eat lunch but not before a special moment with the staff. “You know when I first seen him after it happened, I walked up to him and gave him a hug. Both of us had turned and walk away real quick,” said Sears.
It was a moment that needed no words. “And I think it was the same emotions for me and David like when we did see Kimbo come back. I was like I guess we did make a difference,” said Manuel Ibuado.
Sears said he’s grateful he was at the senior center when it happened and said anywhere else could have changed the outcome. “So yes, being here was a blessing for me. It really really was,” said Sears.
The two city employees credited for saving Kimbo’s life will be honored at Wednesday night’s Albuquerque City Council meeting starting at five p.m.
