Spring Valley, NY – Teacher Jacob Klang collapsed in front of 200 students in a study hall at the Ohr Hameir Theological Seminary in Cortlandt on Nov. 7. Instantly, students jumped to his aid, one calling 911, another running to get the school's oxygen tank and others taking turns performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation for nearly 10 minutes until an ambulance arrived.
He went into cardiac arrest and no one knows why. The 37-year-old father of six from Spring Valley was otherwise healthy.
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He lay in a coma at Westchester Medical Center for nine days. His organs were failing. His mother and wife slept in the waiting room for nearly two weeks. Doctors told them to pray.
But members of the cardiology team under Dr. Melvin Weiss, chief of cardiology, worked to keep his heart artificially pumping using a relatively new device called the TandemHeart.
Doctors pushed a catheter, or a tube, through an incision near Klang's groin. The tube, nearly the thickness of a garden hose, went up through his femoral vein into his heart. First into the right atrium and then through the thin wall into the left atrium.
Oxygen-rich blood is sucked from the left atrium back into the machine, where the blood passes through a centrifuge and is pushed out through another smaller tube into the femoral artery. This supplies oxygen-rich blood to the lower part of the body and the abdominal organs.
It does the job of the left ventricle, the main muscle of the heart, pumping blood into all parts of the body.
It worked and yesterday Klang was released from the hospital with a clean bill of health.
In one month's time, Jacob Klang went from near death to a full recovery. His brain is functioning well.
After resting at home for the next month or two, Klang said, he will likely return to teaching at the Cortlandt yeshiva.
Family members, happy to have him home tonight for the first night of Hanukkah. They thanked everyone at the hospital and the school.
"Our biggest gratitude is to God for creating this miracle," said his brother-in-law, Shaul Seitler, 35, of Monsey.
As for the first responders, the brave students, Klang's wife, Esther, 32, was at a loss for words.
"What do you say to someone who saves your husband's life?" she said. "There's not enough you can say to someone who has saved your whole world. 'Thank you' just isn't enough." [lohud]
Refuah sheleimah
MU RABI MASECHU HASHEM
Rabbi Klang and his family are very lucky people… May he continue to have a refuah shaleima…
My Husband and My Family are also VERY LUCKY! Bechasdei Hashem!
My Husband, may he continue to be well till 120, also a 37 year old, felt chest pain (a burning feeling in the chest) and shortness of breath when he walked even a short distance. He went to his regular Dr. his PCP who gave him some medication for his high blood pressure and took an EKG that showed normal. He was told to come back in 3 weeks.
Because he felt so bad after walking a small distance, and with advise from his brother (who had experience with clogged arteries) he contacted Rabbi Lauber from Bikur Cholim of Rockland County who got him an appointment that same day to a Cardiovascular specialist in Suffern, and insisted that the doctor perform a “STRESS TEST”. The test immediately showed a possible problem.
Two days later, in Good Sam Hospital, he had an Angioplasty and a Coronary Stent Implant to his LAD. A Main left artery was 95% blocked! According to the Dr.: “This was a time bomb for a Massive Heart Attack”.
He was in the hospital for 1 day only, and is a NEW person now B”H!
Bechasdei Hashem, his blockage was unclogged just in the nick-of-time!!
I am writing this story on this forum, so that if Chas vesholom, when in need, DON’T wait till its too late! (I’m not suggesting that Rabbi Klang waited, there are times that a person feels nothing before…) Check your Cholesterol Level and Blood Pressure, especially if there is Family history!
Don’t panic, just take care of yourself. Venishmatrem meod!!
As a CPR, 1st Aid and AED instructor for over 16 years, this incident stresses the importance and the need to have as many people of all ages trained. Many of my students have saved the lives of their parents, siblings, teachers and rabbeim, who had been choking, in respiratory or cardiac arrest.
Freilichen Chanuka to all!!
May Hashem send a Refuah Sheleima to Mr. Klang and best wishes to his family and Klal Yisroel.
These open miracles are Hashem’s way of revealing himself to us.
Thank you Hashem.
What a beautiful story…a true Chanukah miracle! Refuah shleima & Hatzlacha & a freilichen Chanukah to you & your family.