By Stephen Tait
Staff Writer
June 05, 2008 12:20 am BOSTON — When Derek Raschke walked into Hearing Room 222 at the Statehouse yesterday, Brenda Carey stood up and said: "Oh my goodness, that's Derek." She walked over to the 18-year-old Newburyport High senior, tears welling up in her eyes, and with a hug said "thank you." Right behind her was her husband, Bert Carey, a 63-year-old Lynnfield man who about four weeks ago collapsed with a heart attack while shopping at John Farley Clothiers in Newburyport. Raschke, at the store shopping for a tuxedo for his senior prom, came to Carey's aid and performed CPR until medics arrived. "Thank you," said Carey as he started to cry while embracing the young man who saved his life. Later, Carey, appropriately wearing a sports jacket from Farley Clothiers, said: "It was difficult to say thank you, it's just not enough words." The Careys — Bert, Brenda and sons Jonathan and Matt — met the Raschkes — Derek along with his parents, Manfred and Cynthia — for the first time at the Statehouse. They joined there not just to meet but also to advocate for House Bill 439, which if passed into law would make it mandatory for all high school students in the state to learn CPR before graduating. Interest in that legislation stems from the unique circumstances in which Raschke was able to save Carey. Just days before Raschke performed CPR on Carey, the 18-year-old was certified in the practice after completing a class at Newburyport High School. But that class only became available this semester after two employees, NHS nurse Lorna Hossack and the wellness chairwoman, Amy Heath, fought for the $2,400 needed to return the program to the curriculum after a half-decade absence. The Careys also said yesterday they plan to provide the $1,000 it costs annually to make sure the curriculum at the city's high school is never dropped again. The timing for the visit to the Statehouse couldn't have been better. This week is also CPR and Automated External Defibrillator Week, and officials from hospitals and the American Heart Association were in Boston to thank legislators for a new law that requires defibrillators to be in all health clubs. Allyson Perron, the advocacy director for the American Heart Association, said they've tried for years to get the CPR requirement made into law. "This is the exact reason why this bill is so important," she said, referring to the Raschke and Carey story. "It just shows how important the skill is to have," said Jennifer Rosenberg, another American Heart Association member. Jonathan Carey, Bert's son, gave testimony during the hearing advocating for the House bill. "Because (Hossack and Heath) fought for that funding and because Derek took the class, we are able to have my father here today," he said as he choked up. If the Legislature passes the bill, "then we can continue to save lives." The families' day didn't end there, though. State Rep. Michael Costello, D-Newburyport, and state Sen. Steve Baddour, D-Methuen, presented Raschke with a citation for heroism in the hearing room. At the same time, both said they would support the bill to mandate CPR at high schools, and Baddour said he would sponsor the bill in the Senate. "It is clearly something that is a common-sense approach," Costello said. Baddour added: "This is a no-brainer. It should happen." Then, before they left the Statehouse, Costello took the Raschkes and Careys to the House floor, where the representatives were in session. Costello took the podium and told the story to his colleagues. At the end of the story, the legislators stood and applauded.
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