On Friday, January 4, 2013, 54 year-old Jim Martek collapsed on the basketball court at Mt. Mercy Academy from an apparent heart attack, while he was refereeing a varsity game.
As the crowd and players watched, Melissa Hudecki, ATC, an Athletic Trainer with Catholic Health’s AthletiCare Program, performed CPR and used an Automatic Electronic Defibrillator (AED) to revive Martek.
Buffalo firefighters also responded and provided additional emergency response before Martek was taken by ambulance to Mercy Hospital of Buffalo, where he was put into a medically-induced coma throughout the weekend to stabilize his condition. Martek’s heart attack was caused by an arrhythmia (irregular heart beat). On Tuesday, he underwent a procedure to implant a device, similar to a pacemaker, to monitor and correct any future arrhythmias.
Martek, a risk manager for HSBC Mortgage Company, is doing well and expected to be discharged from the hospital today to continue his recovery. Before he leaves, however, he will get a visit from Hudecki, whom he has known for many years through his work as a sports referee. Martek is grateful to Hudecki, the first responders and the medical team at Mercy Hospital for his remarkable recovery. His goal is to attend the basketball game that will need to be rescheduled from last Friday.
Mt. Mercy Academy contracts with AthletiCare for athletic training services for its sports program. As a Certified Athletic Trainer, Hudecki has extensive medical training to manage on-site sports injuries, as well as provide lifesaving emergency care.
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