Hope volunteer, Carol Jaques, was making bereavement calls - checking in on her list of families who had recently lost a loved one. She called upon a widow in Lake Placid, Florida and simply asked, "how are you doing?"

The widow replied, "I'm not doing so well at the moment."

Carol expected to hear how the widow was missing her husband but was surprised to learn the grieving woman was experiencing shortness of breath. Recognizing this as a symptom of cardiac stress, Carol asked the widow to take her blood pressure. The widow returned to the phone to reveal very high numbers. Carol calmly asked for a neighbor's phone number, then instructed the woman to unlock the front door and lie down. She called the neighbor and asked her to check on the ailing widow.

The following day, Carol worried about the widow and called her home. When she didn't answer, Carol called the neighbor who explained that, shortly after Carol's call, EMS transported the widow to the hospital. She suffered a significant heart attack. EMS shared that if Carol hadn't contacted the widow when she did, the woman may not have survived.

Each day, with every interaction, Hope volunteers have the ability to help others along life's journey. For Carol, a simple phone call paired with her careful instruction and quick action saved a woman's life!