Writers Tricks of the Trade Issue 6, Volume 6 | Page 15

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is a story that is very close to me. It is the miracle part of the memoir INCEST,
MURDER AND A MIRACLE. I am honored that I was chosen by Cheryl and Robert Cuccio to help them
tell their amazing story. Rob is one of the few people who has been dead for almost an hour and
revived with no major brain damage. This is an uplifting story with a message. The full story is in the
book.

Life Stories
ROB CUCCIO CAN TELL YOU WHAT IS IT LIKE TO
BE DEAD FOR 43 MINUTES

ROB CUCCIO

AS TOLD BY ROB CUCCIO FROM HIS FIRST-HAND EXPERIENCE!
On May 14th 2012, I died for 43 minutes after having a heart attack on my wife's
43rd birthday, only to come back and get screwed in a court of law.
THE CARDIOLOGIST TREATING ME SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG!

In summary, before my heart attack, I went to a cardiologist a few times
because I had chest pains, a numb left arm and trouble breathing at times. I was
told nothing was wrong with my heart. Three months later, I had an episode unlike
any other episode I have had before, but it went away after 20 minutes.
Early the next morning I went back to the cardiologist, and was assured again
that it was not my heart. The doctor said he thought it was something I ate. Twoand-a-half weeks passed. When I had a massive heart attack, I found out in the
worst way possible that it had been my heart all along.
I was given up for dead after 30 minutes without a pulse or oxygen to my brain.
The ER doctor told my wife and children there was nothing else they could do for
me. But my wife Cheryl later told me she knew I wouldn't leave her, and she
wouldn’t take no for an answer. She pleaded for more CPR—more efforts to revive
me. Finally the doctors relented and told her they would try for ten more minutes.
There was disbelief and awe among the entire medical staff when my heart
restarted after eight of those precious ten minutes. The doctors called it a miracle,
but there was more to come. I was still teetering on the edge, so ask me—I know
what the other side is like. I was there for close to an hour in that peaceful bluish
place with my guardian angel by my side. The image will never leave me.
The story of my experience is too long to fully go into in this article, but after I
was revived, I was placed in an induced coma for 17 days, and fought for my life
while all my organs were shutting down. It was definitely tou