Dr. Anezi Uzendu, an interventional cardiologist and researcher with Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute, is dedicated to saving lives after nearly losing his own.

He had just graduated from medical school and was 25 years old when he went into sudden cardiac arrest while playing basketball.

"I was blessed to have people that knew CPR and have an AED available to be able to help save my life, and that shouldn't be something that is a rare occurrence. It should be available to anyone," he said.

It's estimated that 90% of people who go into cardiac arrest outside of a hospital do not survive and only 7% go on to lead normal lives.

Watch his full story below and hear how he is working with the American Heart Association to raise awareness for bystander CPR. 
 

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