Man Found Frozen in Pennsylvania: Don Smith discovers his 26-year-old son, Justin, unconscious and seemingly frozen to death on a bitter February morning in Trescao, Pennsylvania.
Emergency Services Called: Despite the initial assessment that Justin had no pulse, emergency responders were unable to declare him legally dead due to his extremely low body temperature.
Doctor Proposes Unconventional Treatment: Dr. Gerald Coleman suggests performing CPR and reviving Justin, emphasizing that hypothermia can slow down the body’s chemical reactions, potentially allowing for survival.
Innovative Life-Saving Procedure: Justin is transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital, where doctors utilize extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) to warm his blood and restore circulation.
Miraculous Recovery: After several days of treatment, Justin regains consciousness and shows normal brain activity, defying initial expectations of severe brain damage.
Long Road to Rehabilitation: Justin undergoes extensive rehabilitation, including the amputation of his toes and fingers due to frostbite, but eventually returns to his studies and resumes playing golf.