Elementary Paraprofessional, Mrs. K, recovering after experiencing heart episode at school

As students and staff at Cora B. Darling Elementary School were anticipating the final week of school prior to the holiday break, and all the hype that comes with the holidays, Wednesday, Dec. 17 saw them experiencing an event of a much larger magnitude. At approximately 7:40 a.m., Mrs. Khatuna Samkharadze, affectionately known as Mrs. K, a paraprofessional in Mrs. Tonya Vagts kindergarten class collapsed in the doorway of the classroom where she appeared to have gone into cardiac arrest.

The mother of two said, “I had just arrived at school and I don’t remember any warning signs before I fell. The last thing I remember is leaving home, with my girls, and arriving at school ready to start another day. I enjoy my job working with the children, and I remember seeing a few of the students who had started to arrive for the day.”

Mrs. K’s husband, Nika, who has a construction business, added, “I was called to the school, and by the time I arrived, they were performing CPR and they had called for the ambulance and were preparing to airlift her.” 

Khatuna added, “I am so thankful to Mrs. Hertges (Karen Hertges, elementary principal) for doing CPR and to the school nurse (Katie Livingood) for all they did before I was airlifted to Iowa City.”

She would later learn that her heart was shocked four times before she was airlifted to Iowa City.

The children, who were just entering the building, to begin their day, were isolated from the incident. Mrs. Hertges said, “Our entire staff stepped up, covered classes, cared for kids and each other. Everyone of them played a part in making this emergency go as smoothly as possible. I am so proud to be a Pirate.”

As the school day was beginning, the helicopter landed behind the elementary school and Mrs. K was air lifted to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. The flight, which took less than 15 minutes, resulted in her being immediately admitted to the ICU (Intensive Care Unit)

Nika said, “I had to make some arrangements at home, and by the time I drove to Iowa City, she was already admitted to the hospital and was being seen by the doctors. It was a pretty long drive for me as I had no idea what I was going to find when I got there.”

Asked if she had a history of heart disease, Mrs. K said, “I had a heart valve repaired in 2023 but the doctors said that the valve really had nothing to do with this incident.”

When asked about her treatment while in the hospital, the couple explained, “The doctors performed lots of tests and many medications were used. They inserted an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) which is a battery-powered device under the skin to constantly monitor for and treat dangerous heart rhythms. The ICD is implanted to prevent future life-threatening events.”

After four days in the ICU and a total of six days in the hospital, Mrs. K was able to return home to Postville on December 23.

She said, “I have had wonderful care since returning home. Nika’s sister came from Chicago and our neighbors and friends have been wonderful. The friends at school have been so kind, they sent me cards, gifts and have visited. Everyone has been so kind. We have received food, gift cards and so much more.”

Natives of the country of Georgia, the family who are Orthodox Christians, was grateful for the monetary gift they received from Community Presbyterian Church and other member’s of Postville’s faith community.

Nika said, “We have lived in Postville for a long time, it is our home and we are so thankful for everything that has been done for us.”

Asked about her recovery, Mrs. K said, “I am getting better but it is taking a long time. I am waiting to get a physical therapy appointment, but for now I can’t do stairs or stand up by myself.”

She went on, “Also when I fell, I hit my head and damaged the muscle in my neck. My neck muscle is swollen and that is taking a long time to heal. I will find out how my heart is doing when I go for an appointment in March.”

As they reflect on the incident, they have nothing but gratitude and kind words for all who helped. Nika, who was an ambulance driver for years, said, “These things can happen to anybody. We are so thankful help was available. We encourage people to get training in AED’s and CPR. AED’s should be in every public building.” 

It should be noted that an AED is a portable, life-saving device used to treat sudden cardiac arrest by analyzing the heart’s rhythm and delivering an electrical shock if necessary to restore a normal heartbeat.

Mrs. K added, “I am so happy to get visits, texts and pictures from the school including the teachers, staff, and kids. The messages really brighten my day. I am also so happy when friends of my kids and their parents come. Our neighbors have been very kind too. I love everything about our small town. We are originally from a very big city in Georgia but small towns are great.”

Reflecting on the situation, Kindergarten teacher, Tonya Vagts added with emotion, “Mrs. K is a beloved member of the elementary school community. I first came to know her while teaching her daughters in kindergarten, and was delighted when she later joined our school staff. I am especially grateful that I was present in my classroom when she began experiencing heart problems and could assist during that critical moment. She misses being in the classroom and we miss her very much too. Knowing how much she misses the children and the school, I visit her, write notes, and share photos. I know these things help her feel connected to the school she cares about so much. The students miss her very much and they often ask when she is coming back.”