SW Missouri News

The incident involving Cindy Brand, a 47-year-old elementary school teacher, unfolded on July 31, 2024. She recounted the moment she realized something was wrong and promptly called 911. An ambulance arrived at her Newton County home, but from there, her memory fades.

Brand experienced cardiac arrest en route to Freeman Hospital West. Emergency medical technicians performed CPR to revive her. "When she came to Freeman, her oxygen numbers were not compatible with life," said Dr. Vigyan Bang, an interventional and structural cardiologist at Freeman.

Various departments at Freeman Hospital collaborated swiftly to save Brand's life. The cardiac catheterization lab was prepared for surgery within an hour of her arrival. Dr. Bang discovered that Brand had suffered a pulmonary embolism caused by a genetic abnormality leading to excessive blood clotting.

Due to this condition, traditional blood thinners were not an option. Instead, Dr. Bang performed a mechanical thrombectomy using a specialized catheter to remove the clot from Brand's lung, ultimately saving her life.

During a press conference at Freeman Heart & Vascular Institute, Brand emphasized the importance of recognizing bodily symptoms and seeking help when necessary. "If you know something is wrong, call for help," she advised.

Dr. Bang highlighted the significance of Brand's quick response: "The most important part is that you recognized your symptoms."

Expressing gratitude towards Dr. Bang and the team at Freeman Hospital, Brand said, "There were many people at Freeman who helped me that day... Thank you for not giving up on me."

Reflecting on the procedure's success, Dr. Bang stated, "I wasn’t sure we would save Cindy... But I’d rather try and fail than never try."

Brand has since returned to work part-time last November and full-time recently at Neosho’s Benton Elementary School library. She can now walk a mile without stopping and looks forward to resuming workouts on her elliptical machine.

"Cindy has been a superstar," remarked Dr. Bang about their enduring connection following the ordeal.

Grateful for another chance at life and anticipating becoming a grandmother soon, Brand expressed appreciation for her recovery journey: "I’m grateful – so grateful – to have this next chance."