Stranger’s quick-thinking saves honeymooning doctor’s life in mid-flight medical emergency

A strange one on a flight from Hawaii jumped to save the life of a doctor in the air while suffering a serious heart complication on her return from her honeymoon.

Dr. Jacquelyn Lacera, 61, got terribly ill about an hour in her flight home on 5 February, only to be saved by a fellow passenger, Emily Haley, who happened to work in an emergency department.

Lacera, a doctor at Riverside Medical Clinic in California, had been on a weekly trip for her honeymoon when she started a medical emergency during the flight home.

She told Fox 19: 'I became really nauseous. Fortunately I was very close to the toilet. So I ran to the toilet and started to vomit. I became very sweaty … and then I started to get very bad chest pain. '

Haley, who works in the Medstar Franklin Square Medical Center in Maryland as a doctor's assistant, flew home with her family when a disaster struck.

“We are just going to sleep for a night flight, and there was a overhead for medical help,” said Haley.

Haley jumped into action aboard the flight and worked with the doctor to save her life.

In the beginning she could not get a clear lecture about the condition of the doctor.

Dr. Jacquelyn Lacera, 61, (left) fell for about an hour in her flight home from Hawaii on February 5 after her a weekly honeymoon to be saved by fellow passenger, Emily Haley

Haley, who works in the Medstar Franklin Square Medical Center in Maryland as a doctor's assistant, flew home with her family when a disaster struck

“I was a bit sad at the moment,” Haley said the Baltimore Sun. 'In short, I had no information. I just knew she looked terrible. '

She checked the vital signs of Lacera and soon discovered that they suffered a kind of arrhythmia – an irregularity in heart rate that requires urgent medical help.

'Once we had confirmed her blood pressure cuff, I saw that she was hypertensive. So at that moment we both talked and I knew I had to act quickly, “said Haley.

Haley gave Lacera liquids and oxygen and laid her down, but her condition was still deteriorated.

“We talked about it and I said:” I think I should shock you. I have no choice, “and she said,” Let's do it. “” Haley said, it was time to use a defibrillator.

“I said,” Okay, this is a shockable rhythm. ” That was a decision that had to be taken at that time at that time. I just looked at her and she looked at me. She said, “Okay, says it's shockable,” and I said, “Do it,” Lacera said, people reported.

“That was the most painful thing I have ever experienced,” she added.

Yet it worked and Lacera was stabilized enough until they landed in California.

'She was incredibly well informed, incredibly calm and she did everything well. I was so grateful for her. It was as if God sent me an angel in this whole situation because it could have been very bad, “Lacera said

American Airlines sent Haley a letter to thank her, Haley said: 'I'm just so happy [Lacera] Is it going well, and again, I hope to stay in touch, hope she is connected to me forever '

The role of a doctor's assistant can include paperwork, keeping patients, ordering medicines or laboratory work.

However, many can get qualifications in emergency assistance, such as wound care, cast and splint application, lumbar leaky tires and diagnostic procedures.

Haley's heroic actions will be remembered forever by Lacera.

'She was incredibly well informed, incredibly calm and she did everything well. I was so grateful for her. It was as if God sent me an angel throughout this situation because it could have been very bad, “she told the Baltimore Sun.

After the plane landed, the doctor was taken to be assessed by care providers.

'I remember that I was walking away and [Lacera] I just leaned forward and gave me a kiss on the cheek, and I was just touched, “Haley told the outlet. “It was just a crazy moment.”

American Airlines sent Haley a letter to thank her, Haley said: 'I'm just so happy [Lacera] Is it going well, and again, I hope to stay in contact, hope she is connected to me forever. '

“We always have this in hospitals where there is room to improve,” said Haley. 'I feel that this is probably one of those opportunities where we can hopefully learn from this and hopefully the airline can improve, and we can all take something away from it'

While Lacera has a number of heart procedures, she started a fight and put out her congress member to point out the lack of good medical equipment on board the aircraft

Haley told the outlet that she was 'a bit proud' to have 'played such a crucial role in her life'. “I just felt touched,” she said

While Lacera has a number of heart procedures, she started a fight and put out her congressman to point out the lack of good medical equipment on board the aircraft.

The Federal Aviation Administration requires that all commercial aircraft are equipped with a medical emergency kit with at least 25 items such as spraying, IV liquid and more, as well as a first aid kit and an automated external defibrillator.

“We always have this in hospitals where there is room to improve,” said Haley.

“I feel that this is probably one of those opportunities where we can hopefully learn from this and hopefully improve the airline, and we can all take something away from it.”

Lacera started with cardiac rehabilitation this week and hopes to return to work soon, De Baltimore Sun reported.

Haley told the outlet that she was 'a bit proud' to have 'played such a crucial role in her life'.

“I just felt touched,” she said.