A teen who was once fighting for his life is set to graduate high school Thursday, but before crossing that milestone, he'll meet the rescuers who saved his life.
"You have to have compassion with this kind of stuff and I think because of their efforts I'm here today and I get to live everyday," Matthew Scalice said. "I get to graduate high school, I get to spend time with my family, my friends and I'm actually here...and not that but because of them changing my life, I get to change the lives of others."
Three years ago, Scalice's heart stopped while racing a friend underwater in a swimming pool, he was 15-years-old.
He suffered a severe asthma attack and went into cardiac arrest. His friend was able to pull him partially out of the water and start CPR. Los Angeles County firefighter paramedics performed CPR for another 20 to 30 minutes when they arrived.
Scalice was rushed to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills. Doctors told his family, if he survived, he faced the possibility of having permanent brain damage.
Scalice spent 12 days in a coma and became the first teenage patient at the hospital to undergo hypothermic treatment. His body temperature was reduced in an effort to save brain function and prevent neurological damage.
With the help of the medical staff, Scalice fully recovered.
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On Tuesday, he met the trauma surgeon who worked to save his life, Dr. David Hanpeter, his ICU nurse, Michael Andringa and the paramedics who never knew his road to recovery, due to HIPPA privacy laws.
Scalice planned to pursue a career in nursing after graduation. He said he wanted to help others the way he was helped.
