Elliot Health System Hosts Second Annual Cardiac Survivor Banquet

On Sunday, May 17, 2026, Elliot Health System brought together survivors, families, and care teams for its second annual Cardiac Survivor Banquet at the DoubleTree by Hilton Manchester Downtown. The event is dedicated to honoring cardiac arrest survivors and the emergency and medical professionals whose coordinated care helped save their lives. 

Approximately 165 attendees filled the room, representing every link in the chain of survival. Among them were 911 dispatchers, fire and police personnel, EMS, Elliot Hospital emergency department, Cath lab and ICU staff, and respiratory therapists — each playing a critical role in giving patients a second chance at life. 

Eight cardiac arrest survivors were honored during the event, with six in attendance alongside their families. For many, the evening marked the first time meeting the individuals who helped save their lives, creating powerful moments of reunion, reflection, and appreciation. 

A particularly moving highlight came from the wife of one survivor, who shared a deeply personal account of the day her husband went into cardiac arrest. From the moment she learned he was receiving CPR from first responders to the care he received in the Elliot Emergency Department, she expressed profound gratitude for every person involved in saving her husband’s life. 

“It took everyone involved with Dave’s rescue that day to be in exactly the place they needed to be, and to decide to get involved… You have shown us what it means to be true heroes. There is so much good in this crazy world.” 

More than a celebration, the Survivor Banquet offers something rare: closure. Survivors and families have the opportunity to reconnect with and thank the people who cared for them, while clinicians and first responders are able to see the lasting impact of their relentless work. 

Now in its second year, the annual event continues to highlight the strength of collaboration across disciplines and the lifesaving difference it makes bringing together the people behind every heartbeat saved.