Medi-Share members Paul and Kelli have learned that a life-threatening medical crisis truly changes your life, sometimes in ways that you wouldn’t expect.
Paul and Kelli joined Medi-Share several years ago, for both spiritual and financial reasons. They aligned with the biblical sharing model and the supportive community. And as self-employed individuals, Medi-Share’s monthly share amount was attractive to them when they were comparing plans.
“We were looking for something that was affordable,” Paul says.
The two of them are generally blessed with good health, and Medi-Share was a good choice for sharing in normal medical expenses. But in July of 2025, something happened to Paul that was anything but normal.
“We were in bed sleeping, and he made a sound that woke me up,” Kelli recalls. It soon became clear that Paul had stopped breathing.
Kelli called 911, and they instructed her to move him to the floor and administer CPR immediately. Police and paramedics arrived, and after trying to defibrillate him, they rushed him to the hospital. He was in acute cardiac arrest.
When Paul got to the hospital, medical professionals were standing by to put him on an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) machine. ECMO machines are a type of cutting-edge medical technology that pump out a patient’s blood, remove carbon dioxide, add oxygen, and return the blood to the body.
“It gives your heart and lungs a chance to rest so they can heal,” Kelli says.
ECMOs aren’t available in every hospital. In fact, there are only approximately 6,000 machines in the country. And there’s only a 50-minute window in which the ECMO can effectively be used after cardiac arrest begins. Thankfully, Paul’s hospital had the ECMO, and paramedics got him there just in time.
Still, Paul’s cardiac blockage was very severe. Doctor’s told Kelli that this type of heart attack was called the “widow maker”. Only ten percent of patients typically survive; the ECMO brings that statistic up to twenty percent.
“This was the worst of the worst,” Kelli says.
So, when Paul stabilized, it felt like nothing less than a miracle. Praise the Lord!
Still, he was in the ICU for a week and in the hospital for fifty days. While there, he encountered additional complications due to bacteria. He had to re-learn how to walk and even swallow. Even now, he is in physical therapy, and his road to recovery will take quite some time.
“We thought he was healthy,” Kelli says. “We were going to open another business on the day it happened.” Life-threatening events have a way of changing everything in an instant, a fact that Kelli and Paul are more aware of now than ever before.
Kelli and Paul both get emotional talking about Medi-Share’s support during and after the ordeal. Specifically, they appreciate their assigned RN Care Manager from Medi-Share’s Cardiac Care Team, who called regularly to check in with Kelli.
“She really cared,” Kelli says through tears. “Almost every day she called. I looked forward to her call. She was a Godsend. She put me at ease.”
Kelli recalls how much the practical and spiritual support meant to her during a very trying time. Her RN Care Manager member would ask about Paul’s progress, of course, and she would inquire about Kelli’s wellbeing and any support she might need. She’d also act as an in-house advocate, helping to coordinate things between departments if needed. And the two of them would spend time praying together for Paul’s full recovery.
One of our core values at Medi-Share is operational excellence, which means that our staff strives to empathize with members and deliver quality care that really makes a difference. For Kelli and Paul, the excellent support that they received helped to lighten the burden of a difficult, frightening ordeal.
“I’m just glad that Medi-Share is along with us,” Kelli says. “It’s been a challenge, but having Medi-Share has really helped.” She also would like to urge her fellow members to make a CT calcium scan part of their wellness care. This simple scan can indicate when heart disease or a stroke might be eminent, possibly helping others avoid what Paul went through.
We’re so grateful that the Lord saw fit to save Paul’s life, and we pray alongside him and Kelli for a speedy and complete recovery.
Looking for spiritual support? You’re not meant to walk alone. Stay connected with the Medi-Share blog for uplifting articles, useful tips, inspirational stories and helpful resources to support you on your journey with God.
Melissa Richeson is a freelance writer and editor based in Central Florida. Her work has been featured in places like The Washington Post, Florida Today,...