Michael Isayan had just returned a stray soccer ball when he noticed his father, Edvard Isayan, sprawled out on the ground in the middle of the soccer field at a Los Angeles park. Only minutes before, Edvard had celebrated scoring a goal during the Saturday morning game. But after his shot, he bent over, appearing to struggle for breath. Concerned, Michael, who was 14 at the time, asked if he was alright. Edvard assured him he was fine, and the game carried on. Now, Michael saw a group of adults gathered around his father, who was unresponsive.

Edvard was not breathing. The emergency response took action quickly: someone dialed 911, another ran to summon lifeguards from a nearby pool, and a man from the group began performing chest compressions. Lacking formal first aid or CPR training, Michael recalled something about tilting an unconscious person’s head back to keep the airway open, and decided to give it a shot. As the first man grew weary and another took over chest compressions, Michael started to breathe air into his father’s lungs, motivated by a desperate need to help.

Upon arrival, the lifeguards brought with them an automated external defibrillator (AED), a device that delivers electric jolts to the heart to restore a regular rhythm. They administered shocks to Edvard while using a bag valve mask to ventilate him until the paramedics arrived. Despite their efforts, Edvard’s heart continued to lack a steady rhythm. As the paramedics took charge, Michael called his mother, Liana Amelova, who was at home with Michael’s younger sister, Elizabeth. To spare her unnecessary panic, Michael said, “Mom, Dad fell, and the paramedics are here.”

Concerned, Liana instructed Michael to hand the phone to a paramedic. The paramedic informed her that Edvard had suffered a sudden cardiac arrest, a serious condition where the heart stops beating and can often be fatal. “We’re doing everything we can,” he assured her, “but he’s not coming back.” Seven years prior, Edvard had undergone a quadruple bypass and valve replacement, with doctors promising that his new heart components would last for decades. Now they were relying on an AED to try to revive him.

Miraculously, it worked. The paramedics then placed him into an ambulance, and a police officer who responded to the call drove Michael to the hospital, where Liana was also en route. During the drive, she took calls from her son, reassured him, communicated Edvard’s medications to the paramedics, and attempted to reach his cardiologist and primary care physician. Over the phone, Michael reported, “Something’s happening. They’ve turned on the sirens, and we’re driving ahead of the ambulance to clear the road.”

Edvard’s heart had stopped again, and he arrived at the emergency room without a pulse. Liana found Michael in a small room with a social worker who was trying to comfort him while medical staff worked diligently on Edvard. An ICU nurse later informed Liana that the ER team had nearly given up on reviving Edvard, thinking too much time had passed. They made one last effort, motivated by the fact that Michael was waiting nearby, and were successful.

To prevent brain damage and aid in recovery, doctors lowered Edvard’s body temperature through a method known as therapeutic hypothermia, inducing a coma while he was placed on a ventilator. Unfortunately, his organs began to shut down. Liana was told by the doctors that her husband’s survival odds were extremely low given how long he had been without a heartbeat. If he did survive, a neurologist warned her that he would likely have sustained significant brain damage from lack of oxygen. To make matters worse, Edvard suffered a stroke during the coma.

A week later, Edvard’s eyes suddenly flickered open. The doctors had cautioned Liana that he might not recognize her, remember his name, or even speak. But after a short time, he focused on her and softly said her name. Over the following weeks, Edvard worked to relearn fundamental skills—walking, talking, and even using a spoon. “His survival was a true miracle,” Liana expressed.

Doctors later told her that Michael’s mouth-to-mouth resuscitation had played a crucial role in preserving his father’s brain, and had the nearby pool not been equipped with an AED, Edvard would most likely have died. About six months after the incident, Michael participated in a summer program in the office of Los Angeles city councilmember Paul Krekorian. By then, he had learned about the AED’s role in his father’s survival and felt motivated to advocate for more devices in public spaces. After discussing this with Krekorian’s team, the councilmember expressed interest in pursuing it.

In early 2024, the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks revealed that AEDs at its facilities had only been used three times annually on average. While city pools were mandated to have AEDs, many parks lacked this life-saving equipment. This prompted Michael to testify before the Los Angeles City Council, arguing that acquiring additional AEDs for public facilities would be a “common-sense lifesaving change.” Krekorian requested $350,000 to fund the procurement of AEDs for 56 facilities lacking them. The council subsequently recommended the proposal to its budget and finance committee.

When funding faced delays in the committee, Krekorian initiated a plan using his district funds to purchase the necessary AEDs for parks and recreation centers across the city, which the council approved on November 5. Meanwhile, Edvard’s health remained uncertain—doctors could not determine why his heart had stopped. While hospitalized, he received an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, a device that monitors heart rhythm and delivers shocks if needed. However, Edvard was left with cognitive difficulties, including short-term memory issues and dizziness, preventing him from returning to work.

??????, ? ???????? 17 ??? ? ? ????????? ?????? ?????, Michael ????????? ?????????? ???? ???????????? ???????????? ?? ?????? ????? ? ????????????, ?????? ?????? AED ? ???????????? ??????. ?? ??????? ??????????? ?????? ? ??????? Governing, ???????? ??????? ? ??????????????? ?????? ????????????? ? ????? ??????????. Michael ? ??? ????? ???????? ???????? ????????????? ????, ??? ????????????? ???????? Edvard. ????? ??? ?????????? ? ???????????? ???? ?? ??????????? AED, ????? Edvard ??????? ?? ??????. ?? ????????? ???, ??? ????????: “? ???????. ???? ?????: ????.”