Doctor Suffers Heart Attack at Hospital

HOUSTON - A local Anesthesiologist spends plenty of time in the Texas Medical Center. However, one fateful day, he had the day off. He just happened to be in the Medical Center with his young daughter, for her appointment.

That's when he felt crushing chest pain that radiated down his arm. He had a feeling something was terribly wrong. He called his wife, and she encouraged him to immediately go to the emergency room.

Dr. William Daily doesn't remember anything about that day - or days before it - but he tried to make it to Memorial Hermann Hospital, where he works. He didn't make it to the E.R. He collapsed in a hallway, where he died, in front of his frantic daughter. No pulse.

It's the events that unfolded next that ended up saving his life.

Dr. David Robinson was seldom in that hallway, but that day, he was. Of all people to be there - he's the Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine. He immediately began CPR.

A resuscitation cart or "crash cart" was in the hallway. That was unusual for it to be there, but it sure helped medical workers help him.

An ambulance just happened to be parked outside with a machine called "Auto Pulse" that automatically performs CPR. This allowed medical workers to quickly transport him to the operating room.

Two specialists were also right there. The Medical Director and one of the top Cardiologists. As if that's not amazing enough, the Catheter Lab was available, so they could run him straight into surgery.

Everything fell perfectly into place. Doctors immediately found and repaired a major blockage to his heart.

Dr. Daily spent almost two weeks in the hospital recovering. Then, he spent several months in Cardiac Rehab, trying to strengthen his heart. He is doing incredibly well.

Dr. Robinson says, "It just goes to show that technology and good personnel with good processes together can really make a difference in the acute heart attack patient. We're really blessed to all be together and to help him in that way."

As for Dr. Daily's daughter, Sophie, who was with him at the time... she says she has never loved him more and will "always be a Daddy's girl."