Hillsborough Heart Attack Survivor Gets Second Chance At Life

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Hillsborough husband and father Mark Connors’ heart had stopped beating for nearly 33 minutes after he suffered a massive heart attack just two days before Christmas. With the right people there at the right time Connors survived.

Holding back tears Connors, 56, expressed his gratitude and thankfulness for those that literally held his life in their hands.

"I am just thankful God brought all those people into my life that day in a time when I needed them the most," Connors told Patch. "They came into my life for a reason. Words can’t express the gratitude I have to have a second chance."

Those people that played a role in saving Connors life include his wife, neighbor, Hillsborough Police officers, and doctors and staff at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) Somerset.

The terrifying incident occurred on Dec. 23, 2018. Connors and his wife Irma have lived in Hillsborough for more than 12 years and recently moved to another part of the township. He was home with Irma when he collapsed. Irma ran out of the home and saw her neighbor’s garage was open. She ran straight into the home and got her neighbor, Brendan Perez.

Perez called 911 and helped police once they arrived. Hillsborough Police Officer Christopher Engelhardt and Sgt. Mark Szimanski were the first on the scene and immediately began CPR until EMS arrived. Seven of Connors’ ribs were broken during CPR.

"I never thought I would ever say to a police officer, 'Thank you for breaking my ribs' … those ribs remind me I am still here," Connors said.

Connors was transported to RWJUH Somerset where Emergency Department Dr. Danielle Minett took over. Despite having flat-lined for a significant amount of time Minett and her team didn’t give up fighting for Connors’ chance to survive continuing CPR and performing an ultrasound of his heart which showed a 100 percent blockage of his Left Anterior Descending Artery.

Connors noted that after 30 minutes he could have had permanent brain damage due to the lack of oxygen to brain.

Following their relentless efforts, Connors was fully resuscitated and rushed to the Catherization Lab where a stent was successfully placed in his artery enabling him to make a full recovery.

"It is so mind boggling, it is so profound that my life was in Dr. Minett's hands, and she didn’t give up on me," Connors said. "I get very emotional when I talk about it. She saved my life."

Connors went into a coma after being resuscitated but woke up two days later on Christmas Day. The staff called him a "Christmas miracle," Connors said.

Connors had a chance to thank Dr. Minett and the staff at RWJUH Somerset on Feb. 20.

"It is so profound to think about that my life could've been over," Connors said. "My life was in someone else's hands."

When Connors saw Dr. Minett he held her so tight.

"I didn’t want to let her go, I wanted her to feel the gratitude and appreciation I have," Connors said. "Words can’t express the feelings I have."

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