Saint Mary’s Respiratory Therapist Helps Save Life at Benton Race

What started as an unexpected change of plans turned into a life-saving moment for Saint Mary’s Regional Health System respiratory therapist Haley Hawthorne. 

Hawthorne wasn’t originally planning to attend the Arkansas Runner Two Mile Road Race in Benton. But when her son expressed interest in participating, they decided to go. That decision placed her exactly where she needed to be. 

Nearly one mile into the race, Hawthorne noticed a commotion just off the course. A fellow runner, later identified as Kim Howard, had collapsed in the grass. 

“I heard someone scream, ‘He does not have a pulse,’” Hawthorne recalled. “I sprinted over and said, ‘I’m a respiratory therapist and CPR certified. Let me take over.’” 

In that moment, training took over, but not without hesitation. 

“Initially, I felt fear,” she said. “This was someone well-known and loved in the running community. In the hospital, you have a full team and equipment. Out there, I had very little, just my training.” 

Drawing on her experience as an ER and ICU respiratory therapist, Hawthorne began high-quality chest compressions and called for an AED. Fellow runners quickly jumped into action. Someone called 911, others ran for help and a nurse and first responders arrived shortly after. 

Working as a team, they delivered life-saving care. After several minutes of CPR, the AED advised a shock. Moments later, they achieved return of spontaneous circulation. 

“Kim began breathing on his own and slowly regained consciousness,” Hawthorne said. “By the time the ambulance arrived, he was talking.” 

Howard was transported to Saline Memorial Hospital, where he received further cardiac care. He was discharged home the next day, alive and well. 

Today, he says he’s doing well aside from some soreness. 

“My ribs are a little sore. They were fractured from CPR,” Howard said. “But I’ll take fractured ribs over being dead any day.” 

For Howard, the outcome is nothing short of remarkable. 

“It means a lot to know people were there for me,” he said. “I was very lucky. If she hadn’t been there, I would probably be dead right now.” 

For Hawthorne, the experience was both humbling and life-changing. 

“I’m still in shock,” she said. “Seeing so many people who wanted to help but didn’t know how really stayed with me.” 

That moment has already sparked action. Hawthorne is now working with running clubs across the region to increase CPR certification and improve access to AEDs at races. Several runners from Russellville are already signed up for a class, and conversations are underway to expand training and equipment statewide. 

She also plans to take her commitment a step further by becoming a CPR instructor. 

“I want people to feel confident stepping in during an emergency,” she said. “High-quality CPR and early defibrillation save lives.” 

Hawthorne’s actions are a powerful reflection of the mission behind Saint Mary’s—making communities healthier, both inside and outside hospital walls. 

Her advice for others is simple but critical: get trained, know where an AED is located, and stay calm in an emergency. 

“Take a deep breath, focus on the task and act,” she said. “You never know when you might be the one who can make a difference.”