[Intro — spoken]

Leonard had saved sixty-three lives in thirty years as a firefighter...

He knew CPR better than anyone...

He just never thought he'd need it himself...

[Verse 1]

Leonard was mowing his lawn on a Saturday bright,

Sixty-one years old — retired — everything right,

Felt a flutter in his chest — just for half a second,

Then the world went dark — faster than he reckoned.

Wife looked out the window — Leonard on the ground,

Ran outside — called nine one one — shaking at the sound,

Neighbor had a device — cabinet on the wall,

Grabbed it — ran it over — gave them all the call.

[Pre-Chorus]

Leonard had a heart attack two years before,

Ejection fraction lower — never quite the same anymore,

Cardiologist had warned him — rhythm could go wrong,

Leonard thought he'd beat the odds — Leonard thought he was strong.

[Chorus]

Leonard's heart is quivering — not pumping — just a shake,

Every cell firing randomly — no coordinated beat to make,

No pulse — no pressure — body shutting fast,

Leonard needs a shock right now — every second is the last.

[Verse 2]

Neighbor placed the pads — device told them what to do,

Stand back — analyzing — shock delivered through,

Leonard gasped and opened eyes — heart back in the race,

Paramedics seconds later — oxygen in place.

Hospital confirmed the rhythm — worst one they could see,

Every cell in chaos — no organized beat free,

Cardiologist said Leonard — this happened once — could twice,

Device going in your chest — that's the best advice.

[Bridge]

Small device beneath the collarbone — wires to the heart,

Monitors the rhythm — twenty four — does its part,

If the chaos starts again — shock from within,

Leonard walking out alive — starting once again.

Medication added too — to calm the triggers down,

Electrophysiologist offered burning the circuit in the ground,

Leonard chose both — device and medication,

Living proof that preparation — meets the situation.

[Outro]

Leonard volunteers at the fire station — teaching CPR,

Shows them how the neighbor's device — saved him where he are,

Device beneath his collarbone — watching every beat,

Leonard's heart is organized now — rhythm is complete.

“Leonard’s Story”