Country Club Hills man receives VIP experience with the Chicago Bulls

February is American Heart Month. On February 3, Advocate Health Care and the Chicago Bulls welcomed heart patient and cardiac arrest survivor, Robert Sims, and his family to the United Center for a special pregame experience before the Bulls took on the Sacramento Kings.

Sims, 69, who is a patient at Advocate South Suburban Hospital in Hazel Crest, participated in the “Fan Tunnel” experience where he and his family high fived Bulls players by their locker room on their way out to the court. They also watched pregame warmups up close, took photos at center court and received lower-level tickets to enjoy the game.

In November 2022, Sims, who owns his own real estate title insurance company in Country Club Hills, experienced shortness of breath while out shopping. When he had to make several stops to rest and catch his breath, Sims knew something was wrong and his wife called paramedics. By the time he arrived at Advocate South Suburban's Emergency Room, Sins had lost consciousness and had no pulse.

After 45 minutes of CPR and other measures, Sims was revived and admitted to the ICU. Miraculously, he was discharged with normal heart function and without any signs of brain damage from the lack of oxygen. It was later determined that a blood clot that had been developing in his right leg traveled up into the area of his heart, ultimately causing the cardiac arrest.

“I thought that I had died,” Sims said. “I am eternally grateful to Dr. [Abdulah] Alrifai and the entire staff at South Suburban. They were so great and I owe them my life.”

Almost a year and a half later, Sims continues to follow up with Dr. Alrifai and has no cardiac dysfunction or heart injury. He is enjoying life with his wife and two adult children.