In A Heartbeat was founded in 2015 by Mike Papale to raise money and awareness for sudden cardiac arrest and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, to spread the word about the importance of CPR and Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) and to provide AEDs and emergency training to organizations.
In 2006 at age 17, Mike experienced sudden cardiac arrest. There was no AED on site, but fortunately for Mike, an EMT working nearby was able to get to Mike in time, performing CPR for eight minutes and saving his life.
Mike was diagnosed with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (an enlarged heart muscle), and had a defibrillator implanted into his chest.
Without an AED on site, doctors said Mike’s chance of survival was one in a million.