COSTA RICA — What was supposed to be a happy break from work for Crosby State Bank CEO Mark Mulloy turned into an event he will remember for the rest of his life.
Mulloy was with his family and some friends in Costa Rica, planning a hike into the rain forest on Wednesday, June 21, as part of their tour package. They had invited another Houston group, including Sheryl Roppolo, whom they had met at the airport on the way from Houston. Mark already knew Roppolo, as she had been the chief clerk for many years in Judge Mike Parrott’s office.
The group of family and friends numbered about 13. As they proceeded up the trail, Roppolo began to feel unwell and mentioned it to the group. A few feet farther, she collapsed, gasping and looking sick. When Mulloy caught up with her, he realized she was in distress and thought it might be a heart attack.
Mulloy’s father, a doctor in Channelview, had taught him CPR years ago. With the help of Terry Thomas from Huffman, who was also in the group, he began CPR. They applied chest compressions, provided rescue breaths, and raised her feet.
At first, Roppolo did not respond and appeared not to be breathing. But after working on her for a while, they heard her breathing, and she seemed to improve. They carried her down the trail to a car, which took her to the village of Jaco, where they were staying. Medical personnel at a clinic there stabilized her, put her on an IV, and prepared to transfer her to a larger hospital in the capital city of San Jose.
By Saturday, Roppolo felt well enough to fly back to Houston. She is now recovering in Methodist Hospital, where it was reported that she would undergo additional treatment for her heart. Until the incident in the jungle, she had been unaware of any heart problems, although earlier in the trip, she had felt some signs.
The Mulloy and Thomas families, both from this area, were able to continue their vacation without further incident.
Remarkably, Mulloy was called upon to use his CPR training once before. About two years ago, while golfing in Atascocita, his golf partner suffered a heart attack, and Mark administered first aid. Unfortunately, the attack was too severe, and Mulloy was unable to save his life.
Mulloy noted that many people have learned CPR, a critical life-saving skill in such situations. Training is available through the Red Cross in approved classes. In Highlands, CPR classes are organized by the Fire Department, and this year the Rotary Club plans to sponsor a training session as well.