Reviving Giles

Fifth graders at Bloomfield Elementary School were outside for an extra recess.

It was a special treat during state testing, a chance to leave those stresses behind and enjoy the 78-degree, sunny weather.

Teacher Giles Laux was interacting with his students as he often does, running around and playing games.

Feeling himself getting tired, he stepped away and told fellow fifth grade teacher Kristen Gibson that he was going to take his students inside. She said she would follow suit.

As they reached the door, Laux started to pull it open. He leaned into it for support. Then, his body slumped.

Stumbling backward into Gibson’s arms, she caught him and placed him on the ground. She used her communication radio to call for help. Fourth grade teacher Kari Brotherton pressed the alert button on the card that hung around her neck.

Seconds later, principal Ben Dues and school nurse Whitney Bruggeman arrived on the scene. Bruggeman assessed the situation.

No pulse.

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“I think we all know that your school nurse is a hero,” Dues said Thursday morning.

Laux stepped to the podium moments later. In front of him were his students, some colleagues and those who responded when he suffered a cardiac arrest. 

He briefly addressed first responders and talked about safety training.

Then he turned to Bruggeman.

“Thank you is not enough,” Laux said.

Those were the only words he could get out. Instead, he walked over and wrapped her in a hug.

Jay School Corporation honored Bruggeman, who is in her fourth year as Bloomfield’s school nurse, with superintendent Jeremy Gulley and school board president Ron Laux presenting her with a commendation.

Gulley praised her “skill, precision and calm under pressure.”

“Her rapid and decisive intervention performed in coordination with school personnel and emergency responders was instrumental in stabilizing the condition of Mr. Giles Laux prior to EMS arriving,” he added. “Nurse Whitney’s actions exemplify clinical excellence, courage, resolve and selfless dedication to duty. … Her efforts not only preserved life but uplifted the spirit of all who witnessed her courage and capability.”

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Laux remembers beginning to open the door to lead students back into the building.

“Everything went dark, just like a curtain closing,” he said. “The next thing, I’m talking to the EMS on the ambulance.”

When she arrived, Bruggeman was hopeful. The exact nature of Laux’s medical issue was unclear. Maybe he had tripped and suffered a minor injury.

She removed his sunglasses.

“Your assessment was very clear that something was very wrong,” Bruggeman said to Laux as they sat across the room from each other while sharing the story.

He was unresponsive.

There was no pulse.

Bruggeman took action.

“I felt like I was almost looking down on the situation, the whole scenario,” she said. “It really was like God was right there sitting with me, looking at the scenario and using me, us, the whole building to get this done.”

She sent Dues to get the school’s automated external defibrillator (AED). Then, 35 seconds after arriving on scene, she cleared clothing from his chest and started CPR.

As she performed chest compressions, Dues returned with the AED. They attached the device. She started compressions again as the device booted up.

The AED signaled her to pause to allow it to assess the situation. It advised against a shock.

Bruggeman resumed chest compressions.

She was thinking about what else she should do or could do. Were rescue breaths needed? What would lead to a successful outcome?

She said she wasn’t counting compressions. She was praying.

“And then about that time, he kind of started responding,” said Bruggeman, tearing up. “And I was so thankful.”

His first response was just a stirring of his body. So she continued compressions.

About 15 to 20 seconds later, he responded more clearly: “Stop that.”

She checked for a pulse.

“I was able to clearly feel one,” she said. “His assessment immediately improved. He showed signs of recovery.”

“And he started talking to us,” she continued, the relief clear in her voice more than a week later.

A teacher at Bloomfield for 13 years, he wanted to go back to his classroom.

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Laux’s memory of those moments immediately after he regained consciousness is hazy.

He said he first thought he was dreaming. He remembers his wife Barbie, formerly the secretary at the school, telling him he needed to get up and get ready for work. He thought he had fallen asleep again.

Then he thought maybe it was a prank, an elaborate one he would never be able to top.

“I was so confused,” he said.

It wasn’t until Portland firefighter Travis Theurer said he was going to be transported to Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne that Laux knew the situation was real.

He slept on and off on the way to the hospital, where he would spend two days.

“I was in kind of a fog,” Laux said.

While in his mind he was foggy, the initial assessment was good. Bruggeman, who started her career at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie and later worked at Jay County Hospital and IU Health Jay, was asking him questions.

He knew who he was.

He knew where he was.

“He looked a little confused, but quick Giles answers,” said Dues. “He was sharp.”

In addition to questions, she was concerned about some facial drooping. The continued assessment and Laux’s responses ruled out a stroke.

“It was clear he was a little groggy, but he answered every question correctly,” said Bruggeman.

Upon arriving at Lutheran Hospital, Barbie shared details of the incident with medical staff.

“The doctor said, ‘Perfect storm,’” Laux said. “He said, ‘You easily could have been walking your dogs and that would have been the end of your story.’ Even though I really don’t prefer passing out in front of kids like that, it was the best place to have an emergency.”

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Laux was released from Lutheran Hospital on Friday, April 25. He had seen emails indicating that firefighters involved in the response would be visiting the school that day. 

“I told Barbie, ‘Let’s pop in and say hi to everybody so everybody sees me on two feet, talking, smiling,” he said.

They visited a couple of classrooms, talked to some staff.

“It was better for me, I think, than you guys,” he said.

“I feel like that really helped us more than I even understood until after the fact, seeing you stop in,” said Bruggeman, a 2007 Jay County High School graduate. “It just kind of helped close the circle a little bit. That was the visual — Mr. Laux being back to being Mr. Laux. It helped us process a lot.”

He returned to a house full of cards from students.

When he got settled, he texted Bruggeman: “Thanks for saving my life.”

Their connection goes beyond co-workers. Laux and his wife have vacationed with Bruggeman’s parents. He and her mother-in-law are first cousins. His daughters went through school at the same time as her sister. He was also her wedding photographer.

“Even just seeing his name pop up on the phone was just very emotional and powerful,” she said. “I’m just so thankful, so thankful.”

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Laux will not return to the classroom this year.

His activity is restricted and open-heart surgery has been scheduled for May 14. Surgeons will remove his aortic valve and replace it with a new one.

“I can’t wait,” Laux said.

In his absence, his former student teacher Nadia Hardman of Indiana State University is taking over for the rest of the school year. The 2022 JCHS graduate reached out to the school to offer her services after hearing about Laux’s situation.

He fully expects to be back teaching fifth graders for the 2025-26 school year, most likely playing games on that playground again.

On Thursday, though, all involved were simply grateful to be together.

“It definitely feels healing,” said Bruggeman. “I’m just so thankful that we can process this right now like we are because Mr. Laux is safe.

“It’s never been more clear that it feels like a family here.”

In his trademark fashion, Dues tossed in some humor.

“You scared us a little bit, buddy,” he said.

“What a blessing we can joke with one another,” he added. “I think that is a testament to what Whitney said — a family.”

Bruggeman’s commendation, Laux said, simply reaffirms what the folks at Bloomfield have always known.

“We tell her how thrilled we are and how great it is to have her here,” he said. “It reaffirms that she is truly special.”