Dr. Jay Leeb celebrated his 76th birthday a few days ago, exactly one month after he was found lying unconscious on the street not far from his Plumstead Township home.
Call it fate, luck or something more, but two people being at the right place at just the right moment saved the veterinarian’s life that spring afternoon.
Linda Brulenski wasn’t supposed to be driving home on April 20. Justin Kling wasn’t supposed to be on duty at the Point Pleasant Fire Company when the emergency call came in.
Without each of those unforeseeable circumstances, Leeb most likely would have died from the cardiac event.
“I’m very thankful, very grateful,” said Leeb, who works at Main Street Animal Hospital in Doylestown. “I got another lease on life.”
Scott Fleischer, Leeb’s stepson and Pt. Pleasant’s volunteer fire chief, said Brulenski had planned to be away that day but stayed home to care for a sick relative. She lives in the same Ridgeview Drive neighborhood as Leeb and his wife, Sheryl Stacy.
Seeing him on the street she, along with others, called 911 and she began CPR, even though she had not practiced it for a long time.
“The 911 operator walked her through it,” said Fleisher, until Pt. Pleasant Fire Co. dispatched Kling, who saw the call come in on his phone.
“He was supposed to be on a camping trip,” explained Fleischer, “but the tent had collapsed, so he was back.”
Kling rushed to the scene and began using his CPR training and “Jay started to come back,” said Fleischer.
Soon Plumstead Township police arrived and used their defibrillator. Leeb was taken to Doylestown Hospital and is now recovering at home.
“Everyone did a fantastic job; that’s what kept him alive. That’s what let him celebrate his birthday,” the fire chief said.
“I don’t know how you thank those people enough for what they do,” said Leeb, of his kind neighbors and dedicated emergency service workers.
Given the significant role CPR plays so frequently in lifesaving emergencies, including his stepdad’s, Fleisher said the Point Pleasant Fire Co. and Plumstead Emergency Medical Services are planning a community CPR training in the coming months.
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