A Monday like no other

An ordinary morning, interrupted

On Monday, September 23, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. The team at Meriden Family Practice was busy with their usual routines.

Heather Minervini, MA, was getting started with paperwork. Alissa Spak, RN, clinical lead, had just arrived at her desk after rooming a patient. Ashley Padilla, phlebotomist, was busy in the lab. Family Clinician, Rachele Yarborough, MD, was seeing patients.

At 11:36 a.m., a mother and her daughter arrived at the practice for an appointment. As they walked in, the mother collapsed. She dropped to the floor just before reaching the front desk.

The sound of her fall broke the quiet routine of the day.

A team in sync

Christine Rousseau, practice manager, swiftly alerted Alissa and Heather.

In the span of seconds, everyone was doing something — assisting the daughter, directing other patients, clearing space. All moving without instructions, but never without purpose.

At the front desk, Laurha Dastine, check-in medical receptionist, immediately called 911.

Heather checked for head injuries and helped position the woman. Alissa, without skipping a beat, began CPR.

No one needed to say a word — they all just knew what to do.

Kimberly Diaz, MA, who had been grabbing mail, also made a quick decision. “I realized it was Dr. Yarborough’s patient, so instead of grabbing any other doctor, I went directly to her.”

Training takes over

By the time Dr. Yarborough reached the woman’s side, the team was working in seamless rhythm. “It was like training had just automatically kicked in. Everyone was doing exactly what they needed to do,” she remarked.

Alissa had kept CPR going, strong and steady, until Dr. Yarborough took over. Kim retrieved the AED, Ashley brought the oxygen. Outside, Lisa Buczek, MA, redirected patients to another entry door while Ann Curiale, MA, redirected patients from check out.

No one had to direct anyone; each of them knew their part. “We were all in sync,” Heather would say later, “almost like we already knew what the others were doing.”

Time suspended

Minutes felt like an eternity as they worked. “The woman’s face was gray. I couldn’t find a pulse,” Dr. Yarborough recalled later.

The EMTs arrived, allowing the team to step back. They watched quietly as the paramedics worked. One last round of CPR, and then the woman took a breath.

Relief washed over the room, but the weight of the moment hung heavy.

After the emergency, Christine moved through the office, checking in on her team. “It was emotional,” she said. “Everyone handled it well.”

Looking back

The following days brought clarity, and with it, gratitude. Not just for the outcome, but for each other.

“I have increased respect for my team,” Christine noted. “We were there to support each other. And everyone worked cohesively.”

“All I could think of was 'Did she make it? I need to know if she is alive!’” added Kim. “Knowing that she made it out of the hospital, that she was able to go back to her family. That was a relief.”

“I was just doing my job,” remarked Heather. “I feel very privileged to have been part of what I think was a miracle.”

Heroes are born from teamwork, good instincts and training

A couple of days later, the woman’s granddaughter returned, carrying a box of donuts. “Because of you, my grandma is still here,” she said.

The sweet gesture was a powerful reminder of how different the outcome could have been. Everyone recognized how much they relied on each other. How much their work — routine or not — meant to those they served.

That Monday, a miracle unfolded through the quiet heroism of ordinary people. The ordinary turned extraordinary, revealing the profound importance of teamwork and preparation.