Sammamish resident Shannon Holliway and her doctors still aren’t fully sure what caused her to go into sudden cardiac arrest in the early morning of March 1, 2009.

The 33-year-old mother of two does know, however, she likely wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for the quick response of three firefighters based at Eastside Fire & Rescue Station 83.

“There’s really nothing I could ever do that would be good enough to say thank you, because they gave me back my life,” she said.

Holliway, along with her husband, two children, mother, stepfather, three sisters and numerous nieces and nephews showed their thanks as they met with the three responders on Wednesday afternoon.

It was the first time in four and-a-half months Holliway had seen firefighters Scott Hammack, Ryan O’Cain and Battalion Chief Glenn Huffman — all who played roles in resuscitating her back to life using CPR. The trio was greeted with a gigantic basket of baked goods, balloons and hugs from every family member.

“This is really what is the best part of our job,” said Huffman, who was a captain at the time. “We rarely — 1, 2, 3 percent of the time — get to see the outcome afterward.”

On the early morning of March 1, Danny Holliway was up preparing for a meeting, having a beer and watching ESPN. When 2 a.m. approached, he decided it was finally time to go to bed. On his way there he stumbled about, waking Shannon.

“I woke her up and she was like ‘You’re so noisy,’ Danny said. “She then got up to use the bathroom and that’s when everything just kind of happened.”

Shannon suddenly collapsed on the bathroom floor. She began to go into seizures and was not responsive. Danny immediately called 911. Before long, Shannon wasn’t breathing, and there was no pulse.

Danny started to use the CPR he was taught during his years of service with the Navy. Moments after he started, the three responders were at his door — within 4 to 5 minutes of the emergency call.

The responders took over, beginning a series of chest compressions, breaths and defibrillations. In their second round of CPR, Shannon began to have respirations, and with another shock of the defibrillator, her heart started beating again.

“For us, in the field, to have a successful resuscitation is not very often,” Huffman told Shannon. “In fact, I’ve been a fireman for almost 16 years and you are the first person ever to be successfully resuscitated.”

He noted successful resuscitations do occur, but mostly after the paramedics arrive and begin drug therapy.

“I think it’s so awesome,” Huffman said. “I get the chills. Scott, Ryan and I have been in communications since that day. Everything that day happened for a reason.”

While Huffman is elated at the outcome, he also put a heavy emphasis on citizen CPR, and commended Danny’s quick response.

“It makes all the difference in the world,” he said. “The bottom line is that Danny was attempting to do CPR, which probably made a difference. I’m sure it did.”

Huffman noted that Eastside Fire & Rescue offers classes every other month for $20. Hospitals and the American Heart Association also offer frequent classes.

“Your event probably has an underlying message in itself,” Huffman told Shannon. “Maybe that message we can share is citizen CPR, we can all get out and be an advocate for that.”

Danny has already sprung into action, setting up a training session in his Microsoft office on Oct. 20.

“It’s a matter of life and death,” Shannon said.

For more information contact Eastside Fire & Rescue at 425-392-3433 or go to the American Heart Association Web site.