Kalamazoo Couple Turns Near Death Experience into Life Saving Mission for West Michigan

A Kalamazoo couple is on a mission to save lives across West Michigan after a terrifying brush with death gave them a new purpose.

Jeff Brazda and his wife Kathleen LaCour started 2026 on what should have been a relaxing vacation in the Bahamas.

Instead, Brazda's heart condition reminded them how precious life is when his defibrillator shocked him back to rhythm.

"So I went down, but this shocked me back into rhythm.

So nobody had to do CPR.

I will never need CPR again, because this is what it will do for me," Brazda said, pointing to the defibrillator now implanted in his chest.

Brazda has the device because in 2023, while playing pickleball, he went into cardiac arrest.

His heart stopped and went into ventricular fibrillation, a particularly dangerous rhythm.

His wife, friends, and Kalamazoo Township first responders saved his life with CPR.

"My heart stopped.

It went into something called ventricular fibrillation, which is particularly dangerous.

My wife and my friends were there and they performed CPR and saved my life," Brazda recalled.

LaCour remembers the terrifying moments clearly.

"We started the process of CPR.

The men that were there helped me turn him over, lay him flat, started chest compressions, rescue breathing, calling 911," she said.

February is American Heart Month, a time when the American Heart Association puts the spotlight on cardiovascular disease and the need for more life savers.

The organization estimates someone dies from cardiovascular disease every 34 seconds in the United States.

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the country.

Since 1964, when President Lyndon Johnson proclaimed February as Heart Month after suffering his own heart attack, awareness campaigns have worked to educate Americans about heart health.

Now Brazda and LaCour are paying it forward by teaching hands only CPR courses throughout West Michigan.

They want to give others the same second chance that Jeff received.

"These other people saved my life, and gave me that second chance.

I'd like other people to get that chance too," Brazda said.

Organizations interested in having the couple teach a CPR class can reach out to the American Heart Association chapter in Grand Rapids.

Frequently Asked Questions About CPR Training in West Michigan

How effective is hands only CPR compared to traditional CPR?

Hands only CPR, which involves chest compressions without rescue breaths, has been shown to be just as effective as traditional CPR for adult cardiac arrest victims.

The American Heart Association recommends this method because it is easier for bystanders to learn and perform, increasing the chances that someone will step in to help during an emergency.

Where can I learn CPR in the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo area?

Several organizations offer CPR training in West Michigan, including the American Heart Association, local hospitals, community centers, and fire departments.

Jeff Brazda and Kathleen LaCour also teach hands only CPR courses throughout the region.

Contact the American Heart Association chapter in Grand Rapids to schedule a training session for your organization or community group.

What should I do if someone goes into cardiac arrest?

First, call 911 immediately.

Then begin hands only CPR by pushing hard and fast in the center of the chest at a rate of 100 to 120 compressions per minute.

Continue compressions until emergency responders arrive or an AED becomes available.

Do not stop to give rescue breaths unless you are trained in traditional CPR.

Early intervention significantly increases survival rates.