May 19, 2015

En route to Kemah on Highway 146 April 28, Felix DeLeon, of Texas City, watched as a motorcyclist slammed into a truck and flew off his motorcycle.

Stopping to help, the College of the Mainland nursing student began performing CPR with two other bystanders, one of whom worked at Bayshore Medical Center.

“He had no pulse,” said DeLeon. “We gave him CPR for seven minutes or more. We took turns counting and giving compressions. It was a group effort.

“By the time the police pulled up we were able to get a heartbeat.”

The man was flown to Memorial Hermann and survived an operation.

“It wasn’t until afterward I realized I was on adrenaline,” said DeLeon. “You remember everything that you’re taught because you’ve gone over it so many times.”

DeLeon will graduate from the COM Associate Degree Nursing Program this month and already has landed a position at Mainland Medical Center.

"It doesn’t surprise me that Felix jumped into action to help the victim,” said COM nursing professor Deanna Machula. "He is a natural leader, and I know he will be a great nurse."

Intervening in emergencies is part of his calling, DeLeon said.

“It made me feel like I’d accomplished something,” said DeLeon. “I was supposed to go for (nursing) 18 years ago. I went for accounting. I was done chasing money, and I wanted to do what I was supposed to do and help people.”

For more information on the COM nursing program, visit www.com.edu/nursing.