By By KATHIE HEMPEL / Niles Daily Star
NILES – "Mrs. Latislaw was not with us."
Sgt. Randy Miller, who heads the Niles Township's Sheriff's department was solemn as he spoke the words that one might expect to begin an eulogy. However, by the miraculous and heroic actions of seven individuals, Teresa Latislaw, 44, was sitting in the front row of the Niles Township Hall Monday evening.
The regular township meeting opened to a full house as the seven credited with saving Latislaw's life were honored.
Hank Kubiak was driving south on South 11th St. when he saw Latislaw's northbound car slipping over into the center lane. Noticing the woman driver slumped at the wheel, he quickly made a U-turn.
"Mr. Kubiak realized the driver was in trouble. He quickly turned around and placed his vehicle in front of Mrs. Latislaw's vehicle to stop it from traveling further," Sgt. Miller said.
Daniel Linn, an off-duty, part-time, on-call volunteer Niles firefighter saw the situation and stopped to offer his assistance.
As Tim Gray, operations manager with Southwestern Michigan Community Ambulance Service (SMCAS) arrived on the scene moments later, Latislaw's heart had stopped beating. Sgt. Miller said it took medication following the failure of defibrillation to restart the heart, to get it beating again.
"Mrs. Latislaw is here with us today. This is a joyous occasion," he said.
Sitting in the front row with her mother, Jean Burgoyne, Latislaw shook her head in disbelief as Miller continued to name all those who brought her back to life.
"It's so nice to see you," Kubiak said.
Kubiak, a hometown hero, was the first to receive the life-saving certificate of acknowledgement from Sheriff Paul Bailey and a huge hug of gratitude from Latislaw.
She is recovering from bypass surgery after doctors at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in Saint Joseph discovered she had a 98 percent blockage of a main artery. According to Latislaw's husband Kevin, doctors said she should have been dead.
Mr. Latislaw jumped to his feet to give Linn a hug after he was presented with his certificate. "This is our bowling buddy, do you believe it? We bowl together every week," he said.
Also honored for their heroic actions in the incident were: Gray, Deputy Jeremy Cleary, Trooper Tom Simpson and Jeremy Loucks. In addition to the certificates, Sheriff Bailey presented pins to Simpson and Cleary for their third and second lifesaving recognitions respectively.
Rick Hotary, SMCAS specialist was unable to attend.
"God's hand set the stage for the events that happened putting everyone in just the right place to save Mrs. Latislaw's life. In 10 years here and all my part-time experience elsewhere, I have never seen it go this well. We very rarely see true successful saves. Even if we do get the heart beating again, normally brain damage from lack of oxygen has already occurred," said Loucks, a critical care paramedic.
"This is a fine example of how well police, county fire and paramedics work together in a team effort to make our community safe," Sheriff Bailey said.
"And we're still Mr. and Mrs. Riverfest," Kevin Latislaw said.
The couple were named Mr. and Mrs. Riverfest in August of 2006.
"My memory isn't that good," Latislaw said, trying to remember her phone number.
Family and friends said her doctors assured them that her memory will return.
For now, they are just glad she is alive.