Houston, TX — Pasadena Mayor Thomas Schoenbein is back at city hall after recovering from a cardiac arrest he suffered earlier this month. He was warmly welcomed by the very first responders who helped save his life just under two weeks ago.
First Responders Reunite with the Mayor
Among the responders present were Memorial Hermann Life Flight nurses Michelle Bourgeois and Destiny Young, alongside the Acadian EMS Pasadena team. They surprised the mayor and wished him well in his recovery.
A Life-Saving Response
The cardiac arrest occurred on August 4 during a meeting in the office of his chief of staff, James Holt, a former police officer.
The mayor lost consciousness while seated at a table, but Holt and others quickly sprang into action, calling 911 and performing CPR. Another Pasadena police officer who heard the call responded by climbing six flights of stairs to assist.
A Miracle in Timing
Reflecting on the harrowing experience, Schoenbein expressed gratitude for the swift response. “God had me and everybody in the right place at the right time,” he said. “I could have been anywhere… but to have people around me that were ready to go, that’s God.”
Medical Care and Recovery
Acadian EMS and Memorial Hermann Life Flight transported Schoenbein to Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Texas Medical Center, where he was stabilized. A few days later, doctors implanted a pacemaker/defibrillator in his chest. Doctors have since cleared him to return to his duties as mayor.
