Friday, March 26, 2004.

NYSUT officers Tom Hobart (right) and Alan Lubin honor Rachel Moyer.

In emotional testimony on the death of the teenager who gave his name to the Gregory Moyer Defibrillator Fund, teacher/mother Rachel Moyer thanked her statewide union for helping her save lives. She talked about watching her son gasp his last breath at a basketball game. The 15-year-old died of undiagnosed cardiac problems while waiting 35 minutes for an ambulance. His mom vowed no other student would face the same fate.

Since that horrible moment, Rachel and her husband John have raised $250,000 to purchase Automated External Defibrillators, devices that can stimulate a heart, to donate to schools and organizations. Moyer, a Port Jervis teacher, joined the family of Louis Acompora, a Northport student who also died of unexpected heart problems, in turning to NYSUT to get legislation passed requiring an AED in every school. "I don't think in my life I've ever felt kinship more with any organization than with NYSUT," said Moyer.

Last year, to show that appreciation, she donated an AED to NYSUT, and it was used to save the life of member Herb Yules at last year's RA. He lived another 11 months.

The four nurses and two NYSUT staffers involved in that heroic effort were each given an AED by Moyers. Nurses Nancy Barth Miller, Anne Goldman, Hope Willocks and Rosemary Scheriff, and staffers Aaron Bifaro and Tom Slavin may donate the defibrillators wherever they wish.

Moyer also introduced Andrea LeFleur, the first student in New York to be saved by an AED since the AED law was enacted.

"AED's can't save a life if they're not available, and they can't be used if no one is trained," said the 17-year-old LeFleur.