One Day; Two Lives Saved 

Jennifer Gentry doesn’t see herself as a hero. “I’m a wife, a mom, and a nurse,” she says simply. But on April 2, the Edmond resident saved two lives within just a few hours. 

Jennifer, a cardiac ICU nurse at Integris Heart Hospital in Oklahoma City since 2018, lives in Edmond with her husband and their three-year-old child. She never imagined her training would be tested twice in one day outside hospital walls. 

That morning, Jennifer was finishing a workout at the Mitch Park YMCA when she noticed a crowd gathered around a man who had collapsed. “He didn’t look good,” she said. When she offered help, bystanders explained he had fallen while running on a treadmill and was unresponsive. 

Jennifer immediately began CPR. “He didn’t have a pulse, so I started compressions right away,” she said. With portable heartbeat and breathing devices brought to the scene, Jennifer coordinated efforts with a firefighter who had also stepped in. After two rounds of compressions, a shock was advised, but as Jennifer continued compressions, the man regained consciousness. 

Paramedics arrived within minutes. “If there hadn’t been people around, I don’t know if the outcome would’ve been the same,” Jennifer said. The man, a middle-aged father, has since recovered and plans to reunite with Jennifer under better circumstances soon. 

Just a few hours later, Jennifer was meeting a friend for lunch at Panera Bread when someone screamed for help. She rushed over to find a six-week-old infant lying motionless on the floor. The baby’s panicked mother explained he had stopped breathing while nursing. 

Jennifer introduced herself, started compressions, and reassured the mother throughout the process. “I’d never done CPR on a baby before,” she admitted. “But I knew what to do.” After three rounds of compressions and airway clearance efforts, the infant began to cry. 

Paramedics arrived shortly after and transported the baby to the hospital. The child has since been discharged and is now healthy and thriving. Jennifer later learned that the baby’s mother is the daughter of one of her former nursing instructors, creating an unexpected connection. 

Reflecting on the day, Jennifer said, “I had to go home and stare at the wall for a bit.” More seriously, she added, “My job prepared me for this. We’re constantly training for emergencies. But this outcome—it was such a blessing.” 

Though the events were challenging for the families involved, Jennifer describes the experience as “faith-affirming.” “I really believe God’s hand was in this, even if I don’t know exactly why,” she said. 

Jennifer also emphasized the importance of preparedness in emergencies. “If you’re a place of business open to the public, you should have an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) on site and people trained to use it,” she said. “And everyone can learn the basics of CPR and how to check a pulse. You truly never know what could happen.” 

From reviving a father at the YMCA to saving an infant at a restaurant, Jennifer’s training and quick action made all the difference. Her story serves as a powerful reminder of the life-saving potential in being prepared and stepping up when it matters most.