Cypress Woman’s Reunion with Cy-Fair Fire Department Reveals How Quick CPR Saved Her Life
At Station 11, hugs replaced sirens and smiles took the place of urgency on September 2, 2025. It was a day of joy, gratitude, and deep reflection as Teresa Askew reunited with the very people who helped save her life just two months earlier — first responders from the Cy-Fair Fire Department and the dispatcher who guided her husband through CPR during the most critical minutes of her life.
The reunion was more than symbolic. It was a testament to the power of early intervention, the strength of family under pressure, and the teamwork that happens every day between Cy-Fair’s dispatchers, medics, and the community they serve.
A Life Saved, A Family Grateful
Teresa had gone into cardiac arrest at home when her husband called 911. On the other end of the line was Danielle Kirby, a veteran dispatcher with Cy-Fair Fire Department, whose calm instructions helped him begin CPR immediately.
“To see Mrs. Terry walk into Station 11 and the smile she had was nothing I have ever experienced in my 10-year career,” said Kirby. “Just two months prior, she was laying on her couch in her living room not breathing. That moment reminded me of why we do what we do.”
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As Kirby walked Teresa’s husband through chest compressions — coaching him even as he struggled to move her onto a hard surface — she utilized Cy-Fair’s advanced CPR rate tracking system to help optimize the compressions before paramedics arrived. That crucial early response gave Teresa a shockable rhythm, allowing crews to bring her back.
“Her husband played a vital role in keeping calm and being able to follow instructions in a very scary situation,” Kirby added. “No one knows how they’re going to react in those times, but he understood that what I was telling him to do was going to keep her going until crews arrived.”
Cy-Fair Fire Department: Community-Focused, Life-Ready
The Cy-Fair Fire Department isn’t just one of the largest emergency response providers in Harris County — it’s also one of the most community-connected. Serving more than 164 square miles across the Cypress-Fairbanks region and responding to over 33,000 calls annually, Cy-Fair Fire Department operates with a mission of compassion, professionalism, and continuous training.
Beyond its fleet of fire engines and EMS units, the department is deeply committed to public education. Through CPR and AED training, community outreach events, youth education programs, and rapid response tools like their CPR rate monitoring system, Cy-Fair ensures that residents are not just recipients of emergency care — they’re participants in it.
Cy-Fair Fire Department dispatcher Danielle Kirby (left) reunites with cardiac arrest survivor Teresa Askew (center) “I’m very thankful to work for a department that does outreaches with the community and gets even the young people involved in how to handle a life and death situation,” said Kirby. “Getting the word out about how valuable it is to have an AED in a home setting can help increase the chances of survival.”
From Dispatcher to Lifesaver
For Kirby, the emotional impact of the reunion with Teresa and her family was profound.
“It wasn’t by chance that I got that call. With my experience and years of knowledge, I was able to jump into action when her husband said she wasn’t breathing anymore,” she shared. “That day — from the first call to the moment crews saw her breathing again — created a bond between us all that’s unbeatable.”
Kirby hopes for a yearly check-in with the Askew family, and she emphasizes the role that trust and communication play between dispatchers and responders. “We in dispatch are only as good as the person on the other end of that phone,” she said. “But we try our hardest to give our crews everything they need before they arrive so they can be prepared for whatever comes their way.”
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Community, Preparedness, and the Importance of CPR
This story is a powerful reminder that in emergencies, bystanders become the first responders — and CPR saves lives. Kirby urges all residents to learn CPR, invest in home AEDs if possible, and understand the role they can play when seconds matter most.
As Teresa’s story shows, lives can be saved when everyday people are equipped, trained, and guided by professionals like those at Cy-Fair Fire Department.
To learn more about Cy-Fair Fire Department’s services or find CPR/AED training in the Cypress area, visit cyfairfd.org.
Stay connected with My Neighborhood News for more community spotlights and life-saving stories from across Cypress and Northwest Houston.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
