Oklahoma Cardiologist Saves Passenger Mid-Flight with Pocket-Sized EKG and Quick Thinking
Talk about being in the right place at the right time. On a recent flight from Uganda to Amsterdam, a mid-air medical emergency turned into a life-saving mission—courtesy of Oklahoma cardiologist Dr. T.J. Trad.
A fellow passenger began experiencing chest pains mid-flight, and what could have ended in tragedy quickly turned into a remarkable story of preparation and heart—literally. Dr. Trad, who was returning home from a medical mission in Uganda, sprang into action with a backpack full of supplies still in tow.
Thanks to his quick thinking and readiness, Trad administered five different medications commonly used to treat heart attacks, stabilizing the man while thousands of feet above the Atlantic. But perhaps the most jaw-dropping part? Trad happened to have on him a credit card-sized EKG device, which he used to help assess the man’s heart function on the spot.
It wasn’t just a matter of medical training—it was personal. Trad revealed that he survived a heart attack himself last year, and now always carries the compact EKG with him wherever he goes. That bit of preparation may have just saved another man’s life.
The story is not only a powerful reminder of the unpredictability of life, but also a testament to how one person’s experience, combined with compassion and readiness, can rewrite the ending of someone else’s story.
No word yet on whether the airline upgraded Trad to first class—but we’re guessing he at least earned a standing ovation from the flight crew.
