Page 20 February 2015 Angel on Earth award given to man dedicated to giving By Kassidy McDonald On September 26, 2014, 36-year Arcadia resident Frank Thomas was given an Angel on Earth award from Angel Wings Entertainment. The award was given at a golf tournament he had organized for Two Hearts Horsemanship, an animal charity that aids abused and at-risk children. The corporation founded by John Shimer to recognize people who pursue charity and help “pay it forward.” The Angels in the Neighborhood is a television show that showcases people who dedicate their lives to helping others. The show’s mission statement is to “‘start a movement’ of serving, of caring and of giving across our nation.” Frank Thomas, winner of the 2014 Angel on Earth award, has dedicated his life to service since 1972. He has held numerous fundraisers; many of them a charity. He felt the need to start giving back to the community after losing his 3-year-old son, Ruben to kidney cancer. Thomas stated, “Through going to radiation therapy, chemotherapy and countless doctor appointments, my son was growing up but at the same time he was dying and that was really hard on our family.” After his son passed, Thomas felt that he needed to start paying it forward to the community. He was thankful for the help he received from the American Cancer Society during his son’s illness. Thomas said, “The American Cancer Society was so supportive and helped my wife and I pay for treatments for my son. Frank Thomas (left) with Gene Simmons (middle). Simmons was the “Angel on Earth 2013.” They helped with hotels bills when we had to travel to appointments and they even helped pay for the gas to get us there.” Thomas dedicates himself to charities that revolve around kids such as United Cerebral Palsy, Big Brothers Big Sisters and Crisis Nursery. He says that he works a half-day schedule, meaning 12 hours of a normal day is dedicated to serving others. When asked about the future of charity and service to others, Thomas replied that, “There is so much negative out there that it’s so important to focus on the good. It’s not the best economy right now but I’m optimistic nevertheless because charitable donations are on the rise from last year. Charity is important for everyone, it can make your heart sing and warm your soul.” Angel Wings Entertainment is always looking for new “Angels” to highlight. If you feel that you or someone you know is a representative of devotion and service to others, you can reach out to them at angelwingsentertainment.com. The United Phoenix Find an Arcadia News rack location near you. Visit arcadiadaily.com click on “Get a Copy” Religious Instruction • Strong Academics • Cutting Edge Technology Leadership Programs • PE and Interscholastic Sports • Instrumental and Vocal Music “Arts Attack” Program • School Nurse • Bus Transportation Available Visit the classrooms, meet the teachers and tour our campus! Visit CLS at our next Open House on Friday, February 20 from 9:00am – noon! 3901 East Indian School Road • 602-957-7010 • www.clsphx.org CHRIST LUTHERAN SCHOOL Christian Values. Quality Education. Preschool through Grade 8 DEBBIE FRAZELLE, ABR 602.954.6888 Office • 602.399.8540 Cell • 3113 East Lincoln Drive bestarizonahomeinfo.com • dfrazelle@cox.net Each Office Independently Owned and Operated TOP 6% OF ALL COLDWELL BANKER AGENTS NATIONWIDE Now is the time to buy... while interest rates are still low!! 6246 N 47th Street Spanish style villa with traditional elegance in the heart of Paradise Valley with Hopi/Arcadia schools. Views of Camelback Mountain, Mummy Mountain and the Mountain Preserve. Resort like backyard, N/S lighted tennis court, heated pool, spa & guest casita. Home is 4469 sq. ft. with 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, 3 car garage/man cave. Offered at $1,659,000. NEW LISTING 5319 E Rockridge Road NEWLY CONSTRUCTED IN 2007, this 5308 sq. ft. home sits on just under an acre on Camelback’s south slope. 4 bedrooms/4.5 baths, gourmet kitchen opens to family room,large pub/billiards room w/built-in bar. Resort like backyard w/negative-edge pool & heated spa. Off ered at $1,650,000. NEW LISTING 4481 N Launfal Avenue Amazing soft contemporary with basement in the heart of Arcadia. 5875 sq. ft., 5 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, library, exercise room & game room. Family room has full bar. Gourmet kitchen includes new SubZero refrigerator, 2 dishwashers, new Dacor double ovens and range. Oversized pool, manicured gardens, outdoor kitchen, ramada for dining and built in fireplace. Wonderful views of Camelback Mountain. Offered at $1,499,000. 4023 E Cheery Lynn Road Charming Arcadia ranch home with white picket fence. Amazing 2+ car garage with man cave and boat storage!! Light airy open floor plan. Home is 1732 sq. ft. Split master suite, 3 bedrooms/2 baths, sitting/ TV room. Inside laundry room. Offered at $359,000. WARM CLASSIC ARCADIA RETREAT STEAL OF A DEAL AT $255 SQ. FT.
Page 21 February 2015 Heart attack survivor grateful for Arcadia neighborhood By Amanda Goossen On the third day of January, 51-year-old David Anderson’s life changed. It was a moment he can’t remember but will never forget. “There are minutes missing,” said David. On that Saturday afternoon, David, longtime Arcadia resident and area optometrist, was spending his day working. He had just returned from a quick lunch at Houston’s and was on his at Arcadia Eye Care on 44th Street and Camelback Road at about 12:40 p.m. “I was on the phone with a friend, walking around the parking lot,” said David. “And then I wasn’t.” The record for David’s phone call says that the call was fourteen minutes long. When the call ended, his friend suspected that the call had been dropped – a regular occurrence so many cellphone users have come to expect. His friend, however, had no idea that parking lot. Having just experienced a heart attack, he was unconscious on the black asphalt, his cellphone lying next to him. The series of events that came next can only be described as a miracle. The cellphone shows that David’s call ended at 12:54 p.m. and a 911 call went through four minutes later. The people who came along within those four minutes saved David’s life. Records show a car drove past the parking lot on 44th Street and Camelback Road. Inside the car just happened to be a group of students from the West Coast Ultrasound Institute, also on Camelback “Students enrolled in the weekend Diagnostic Medical Sonograph program (a Cardiovascular program) were heading out for their lunch break when they noticed a man laying on the pavement unconscious and not breathing,” said George Fitzpatrick, Campus Director at the West Coast Ultrasound Institute. desk and 911 was called. In the meantime, four additional students started chest compressions on the man. Christian Vasquez, [a junior in the weekend Echo program] led the resuscitation efforts,” George continued. As the students pulled up, there was already one man caring for the injured. “While running errands, I drove into the parking lot northwest of the intersection of 44th Street and Camelback Road to turn around, when I noticed a man down on the pavement about 75 yards farther west,” said Matt Kalina, a resident of Scottsdale. Matt drove directly to the scene and ! vehicle. “The subject was laying on his back, and his face was purple. I checked for breathing, detected none and immediately started chest compressions. David struggled to attempt a couple of slight gasps for air,” said Matt. While Matt lost track of time, he does remember a group of students arriving and calling 911. No one reported seeing David fall and he was cool to the touch, Matt told Arcadia News. “The group of folks who arrived after I was there performed a textbook job of ! compressions until Phoenix Fire arrived,” said Matt. " " !# Firehouse No. 13 was with the emergency vehicle, which responded to the 911 call. Riddle-Bigler performed the shock of a therapeutic dose of electrical energy to the heart, as well as other advanced life support treatment. On Saturday, January 3, this group of and an electrical medical machine saved David’s life. David came back to life after a shock He sat up immediately. Groggy and confused, David was awake and seemed nearly unfazed. “I remember talking in the back of the ambulance and I had to unlock the security code on my phone at the hospital so they could contact my family,” said David. For David, the series of events are incredible. “If I would have fallen between the buildings I would have been dead,” he said. “They would have found me two hours later.” Instead, the fast actions of everyone involved saved this father, doctor, brother and friend. A father of four young children, ages 8-14, David was incredibly thankful. His $ % two days later was to meet Matt Kalina. “David must be a tough, strong guy, because it was impressive to see him on his feet and looking great when I met him and two of his brothers after he was released from the hospital just two days after the incident occurred,” said Matt. David spent about a day and a half at Osborn Hospital. Two of his brothers & and spent every moment with their ailing brother. The only time they left him was to go to the spot of the incident and take a photo to make David laugh. A playful photo, of them laying in the parking lot just as he had only hours before, brought a lighthearted moment to a terrifying day. David had three stents put in place. Only a tiny scar remains on his wrist from the surgery. Two weeks later the only lasting effect is sore ribs, a result of the CPR. The doctor explained to him that two- thirds of people who suffered from the type of heart attack he had do not survive, and if they do, they have to live with major brain and/or heart damage. The reality of the situation brought forth such intense emotion that David wanted to publicly thank everyone who helped save his life. “From those at the scene, to the medical professionals and the doctors at Osborn…” said David. “It’s kind of funny…What do you say to someone who saved your life?” (Top, left) A photo taken by a bystander of the actual event on January 3. (Top, right) David (right) stands with Matt (left) two days after leaving the hospital. ! ""!#$