Survivor: Jim Valenti

1-minute read

Beating the odds following a life-threatening episode

On September 30, 2022, Army Staff Sargent and Cedar Hill Police Officer Jim Valenti was mowing his lawn when he disturbed an underground yellow jacket nest. Stung multiple times, he ran into the house to give himself a shot, but quickly knew something wasn’t right. He called out to his wife and daughter as he collapsed. While lying on the kitchen floor, he went into anaphylactic shock and his heart stopped. His wife immediately called 911 and his daughter, Nicole, began administering CPR. When paramedics arrived, Jim was in cardiac arrest. They intubated him and initiated mechanical CPR using the LUCAS Chest Compression System to deliver consistent compressions during transport. In the ICU, clinicians initiated targeted temperature management to help protect his brain. After five days, Jim regained consciousness. Eleven days after collapsing on the floor, he walked out of the hospital. Jim’s miraculous recovery reflects the importance of preparation—family members ready to act, EMS equipped to respond and hospital teams aligned to continue care. Watch the full story to see how every link in the chain mattered.