Matt Frye/Sun TribuneSteve and Virginia Otto tell their longtime Gladstone neighbor Earl McCleave happy birthday at his 90th birthday celebration Sunday, March 2, at North Kansas City Community Center.
Join our Mailing List!
Please click the link below to sign up for your community paper mailing list. Stay up to date with all the events going on in your community as well as the latest news.Sign Up Today!
Cardiac arrest survivor returns to site, celebrates 90th birthday
By Jeffrey M. Salem
Earl McCleave spent his 90th birthday on Sunday, March 2, at the site of a troubling incident that could have cut his life short.
On May 8, 2002, McCleave went for a routine swim at North Kansas City Community Center.
“Every morning he’d go down there and swim. He would try to swim an hour at a time without stopping. He was in very good health” said his wife, Ethlyn McCleave, recalling the normalcy of the day. “I was out shopping when I got a phone call.”
Becky Sparks, now the center’s administrative assistant, vividly remembers the events of that day. Sparks, then the aquatic programs assistant, said everything happened in slow motion.
“Earl was swimming laps,” she said, and later added, “That’s the only time we’ve had to do that type of rescue at the center.”
While in the pool, Earl went into cardiac arrest and drifted to the bottom of the pool. He didn’t come up. Lifeguards John Alas and Josh Miller dove in and pulled out the 84-year-old and started cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Sparks secured the pool and called 911.
“The boys couldn’t locate a pulse, and (Earl) was not responsive at all,” Sparks said. “It seemed like everything happened in slow motion. It took the fire department forever to get here, and I’m sure they got here in two minutes.”
Emergency medical services arrived and had McCleave to North Kansas City Hospital in 13 minutes.
The lifeguards’ quick life-saving actions later earned them the American Red Cross Lifesaving Award for the Professional Rescuer.
Ethlyn McCleave still has trouble containing her emotions when recalling her drive to the hospital not knowing whether her husband was alive.
“I just kept saying, ‘It can’t be; it can’t be.’ I was so shocked,” she said in a shaky tone. “I was just devastated.”
Earl McCleave has recovered after undergoing quadruple bypass heart surgery. It turned out Earl’s arteries were blocked, which led to the cardiac arrest.
“He takes seven heart medications, but other than that, he’s been OK,” Ethlyn McCleave said.
To mark his 90th birthday, Ethlyn McCleave said it was fitting for the couple that’s lived in the Northland since 1951 to return to the community center for a party. About 135 family, friends and fellow church members from Grace Baptist Church were invited to celebrate with Earl McCleave on March 2.
At the bash, Earl McCleave reflected on the day his life was saved.
“I remember I was almost finished (swimming),” he said. “I just didn’t feel right.
“Then I just remember being at the hospital,” he said.
Sparks, Alas and Miller joined the group at the party. Since the heart attack, the trio joins the McCleaves for lunch or dinner each year on the anniversary.
Earl McCleave had trouble putting into words what their efforts meant to him.
“I’m just glad to still be able to have lunch with them, and I owe them a great debt,” he said. “How do you repay someone for saving your life?”
Staff writer Jeffrey M. Salem can be reached at 389-6653 or jeffsalem@npgco.com.
printable version
e-mail this story
On May 8, 2002, McCleave went for a routine swim at North Kansas City Community Center.
“Every morning he’d go down there and swim. He would try to swim an hour at a time without stopping. He was in very good health” said his wife, Ethlyn McCleave, recalling the normalcy of the day. “I was out shopping when I got a phone call.”
Becky Sparks, now the center’s administrative assistant, vividly remembers the events of that day. Sparks, then the aquatic programs assistant, said everything happened in slow motion.
“Earl was swimming laps,” she said, and later added, “That’s the only time we’ve had to do that type of rescue at the center.”
While in the pool, Earl went into cardiac arrest and drifted to the bottom of the pool. He didn’t come up. Lifeguards John Alas and Josh Miller dove in and pulled out the 84-year-old and started cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Sparks secured the pool and called 911.
“The boys couldn’t locate a pulse, and (Earl) was not responsive at all,” Sparks said. “It seemed like everything happened in slow motion. It took the fire department forever to get here, and I’m sure they got here in two minutes.”
Emergency medical services arrived and had McCleave to North Kansas City Hospital in 13 minutes.
The lifeguards’ quick life-saving actions later earned them the American Red Cross Lifesaving Award for the Professional Rescuer.
Ethlyn McCleave still has trouble containing her emotions when recalling her drive to the hospital not knowing whether her husband was alive.
“I just kept saying, ‘It can’t be; it can’t be.’ I was so shocked,” she said in a shaky tone. “I was just devastated.”
Earl McCleave has recovered after undergoing quadruple bypass heart surgery. It turned out Earl’s arteries were blocked, which led to the cardiac arrest.
“He takes seven heart medications, but other than that, he’s been OK,” Ethlyn McCleave said.
To mark his 90th birthday, Ethlyn McCleave said it was fitting for the couple that’s lived in the Northland since 1951 to return to the community center for a party. About 135 family, friends and fellow church members from Grace Baptist Church were invited to celebrate with Earl McCleave on March 2.
At the bash, Earl McCleave reflected on the day his life was saved.
“I remember I was almost finished (swimming),” he said. “I just didn’t feel right.
“Then I just remember being at the hospital,” he said.
Sparks, Alas and Miller joined the group at the party. Since the heart attack, the trio joins the McCleaves for lunch or dinner each year on the anniversary.
Earl McCleave had trouble putting into words what their efforts meant to him.
“I’m just glad to still be able to have lunch with them, and I owe them a great debt,” he said. “How do you repay someone for saving your life?”
Staff writer Jeffrey M. Salem can be reached at 389-6653 or jeffsalem@npgco.com.