EAST MEADOW- On Friday, March 27, the softball team, made up of employees from Nassau University Medical Center and other county departments, had a typical practice at Eisenhower Park to get ready for their upcoming season. Maintenance Painter at NUMC John Calderone was making his return to the softball field for the first time in 15 years, and was pitching some batting practice to his teammates.
As is the leisurely nature of batting practice, players were taking their time as they took turns between hitting and playing the field. But, out of nowhere, something happened that would turn leisure into a frantic state of affairs. Calderone, 51 years old, would collapse on the mound as the result of a heart attack, prompting all the players on the team to rush to him.
Teammate and anesthesiologist Jimmy Feretti administered CPR to Calderone, while CSEA NUMC Unit President Ken Nicholson flagged down Public Security (also CSEA members) as everyone else on the team helped out in their own way. Public Security officer and licensed EMS Timothy Beuth was the first person not on the team to arrive. “The first person to help is just as helpful as the 11th or 12th,” Calderone said. “Everyone had their own job at that time.”
Luckily, a Nassau County Ambulance, driven by AMT and CSEA Member Ronald Bagan, had been in the area and within minutes arrived at the scene along with Nassau County Police. “It took the whole team to put John on the stretcher and bring him over to the Ambulance because it was so muddy that day,” NUMC Public Safety officer Bruce LaPlante said.
The short drive to Nassau University Medical Center ensued, and Calderone arrived at the Emergency Room to ER Nurse Lynn Ranskill, a 26 year veteran of NUMC. She was amazed at the shape Calderone was in considering the incident that happened just moments earlier. He had a pulse, and was breathing slowly. “I thought at that point, if anyone stands a chance to make it through this situation right now, it is John,” Ranskill said. “To be on a team of medical personnel and have Public Security at the park show up right away and an Ambulance driving by, was incredible.” NUMC Cardiologist Dr. Freeman said that if he would have had the heart attack at home, or someplace where medical personnel was not present, the prognosis would not have been nearly as well as it turned out to be.
Once he was stabilized he was sent to the Coronary Care Unit where he stayed for 2 weeks. “He had more visitors than anyone I can remember. Employees, administration, everyone,” CCU Nurse Melissa Eichele said. John Meyer, another CCU Nurse, was also very helpful in the time Calderone spent there.
Calderone emphasized that this really was a community effort, not just between Public Security, AMT’s and NUMC personnel the day of the incident, but all the support since then. “I just thank God that I have great health benefits through CSEA to help me with this. I found out that fellow employees have donated time to help me out. Also, cards and letters of support have been never-ending.”
Calderone is hoping to return to work by the beginning of July, and said he is feeling great now. “This is just a wake up call for everyone. Even if you take care of yourself, these kind of things can happen.” He emphasized that everyone should get regular checkups and stress tests. He finished by saying, “If it wasn’t for faith, and prayer and my family, this wouldn’t have been possible.”