Vietnam Veteran
Tom McCay is a retired U.S. Air Force colonel.
His service record is so extensive it stretches back to Vietnam.
Tom's Story
Tom knew all about flying as he is a retired US Air Force Colonel.
As such, he felt completely comfortable while flying, and he never thought he'd have to go through what happened next...
Enjoying Retirement
Tom and his wife Maggie decided to go on a cruise after both of them retired. In March of 2017, they set sail on a wonderful Caribbean cruise.
After enjoying their vacation, they were ready to head back home to Texas by plane.
The Flight that Changed Their Lives
The couple boarded a one-hour flight from Atlanta to Houston. What could happen in just one hour?
Surely nothing too serious right?
Something Wasn't Right
After the first half of the flight, Maggie noticed something strang in Tom.
He was sweating, lightheaded and clammed up. However, he told his wife there was nothing to worry about, and that he'd just tough it out.
Tom Collapses
As fast as it began, Tom's condition worsened, and he collapsed in his seat.
Maggie started yelling for help, hoping some passenger could save her husband.
No Time To Wait
As an experienced nurse, Maggie knew Tom was in serious trouble, and that he needed help immediately.
Otherwise, it could be too late to save him. But who could help Tom in such a state?
Luck Was On His Side
After Maggie called out for help, one health care professional stood up and ran to his side.
But that wasn't all: another one joined him and another and another. What happened next was unbelievable.
Strange Turn Of Events
One after the other, passengers kept coming to Tom's aid. A whopping 25 health care professionals came to help.
But how odd was it that 25 of them were on the same plane?
The Explanation
There was a reasonable explanation as to why all of them were on the same plane: they were in Atlanta for a medical conference at the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology.
However, helping Tom didn't turn out so easy.
Saving Tom's Life
It was very difficult for the doctors to work in such a small and crowded space. But as professionals, they knew how to make it work.
They used three plane seats as an impromptu bed, and they immediately got to work.
Acting Fast
The doctors needed to position Tom to fully open his airway and ensure oxygen traveled to his brain.
His pulse was very weak, and his life could only be saved in a couple of minutes.
Team Work
The doctors administered oxygen to Tom, while the crew brought their medical bags.
They also informed the pilots about what was happening, in case they needed to do an emergency landing.
The Diagnosis
>After Tom's pulse stabilized, the doctors agreed that his life was no longer in danger. However, they couldn't figure out what had happened to him.
Their initial diagnosis was that he mixed alcohol with his medication, but one doctor disagreed.
What Really Happened
One of the doctors realized that Tom's alcohol consumption wasn't enough to cause the emergency, as passengers are only served small glasses of alcohol.
Instead, what caused Tom's condition was dehydration.
The End
Had it not been for his fellow passengers, Tom’s emergency would have ended catastrophically.
"I just feel like God was hovering over the plane with the number of doctors there," Maggie confessed.