A fortuitous intervention by an Illinois doctor at Disney World led to the saving of a 17-year-old girl's life. Dr. Jeffrey Schiappa, identified as a family medicine physician with Premier Suburban Medical Group, was on vacation when he noticed the emergency unfolding at Disney's Hollywood Studios. In a statement detailed by ClickOrlando, Schiappa recounted, "Then, I saw a young woman on the ground, not moving." He performed chest compressions on the girl who had an irregular pulse and brought into use an automated external defibrillator (AED) provided by the park to deliver two life-saving shocks.
According to WESH, the girl was reportedly found unconscious, and after the doctor's intervention, she had to be shocked twice before she could regain consciousness. Notably, she experienced additional episodes, as she coded twice en route to the hospital and once again in the emergency room.
Furthermore, the girl’s life-threatening condition was later revealed to be Long QT syndrome (LQTS), a heart rhythm disorder known for causing fast, unpredictable heartbeats, after she was taken to the hospital. "Doctors implanted a pacemaker, and I understand she’s now doing very well," Schiappa expressed in a statement to ClickOrlando. The rapid medical response and subsequent proper diagnosis and treatment likely prevented what could have been a tragic outcome.
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