Longtime St. Luke’s employee saves a life, gets opportunity for emotional reunion

For most of the diners on a recent Sunday at a restaurant in Nampa it was a routine afternoon meal.

For Sharon Sullivan, it was much more than that. 

“This is one of the most incredible days of my life,” Sullivan said. “To meet the person who saved my life, what an honor.”

There were more than a few tears shed that day, from both Sullivan and her daughter.

The two talked about how much love – and respect – they had for a man who was a total stranger just weeks before that afternoon meeting.

That man is Reuben DeKastle, who has been a St. Luke’s employee for more than 27 years. DeKastle is a longtime director of student services and educational opportunities, but prior to that he spent most of his career as a nurse in St. Luke’s operating rooms.

That clinical background proved to be especially important when Sullivan was in a serious accident on June 30 while driving down Garrity Boulevard in Nampa.

“She took out a light post, careened into the middle of the road and came to rest in the turning lane,” said DeKastle, who in a stroke of luck, was driving near the scene of the accident.

“I quickly realized that I was on my own to do whatever needed to be done,” DeKastle said.

The first obstacle was getting to Sullivan. Her car was mangled and the doors were locked, all the windows were intact.

“I couldn’t believe how tough those windows were,” DeKastle said.

After finally breaking a window to get in, DeKastle discovered that the impact of the accident had left Sullivan upside down, with her head in the foot compartment on the passenger side.

With the help of another woman who arrived on the scene, DeKastle was able to move Sullivan into the driver’s seat.

DeKastle then assessed Sullivan’s condition. He immediately knew what he was up against.

“She was as purple as anyone I’ve ever seen,” he said, realizing that the accident was caused because Sullivan had a cardiac event.

Did DeKastle question his ability to proceed?

“It wasn’t a question of me thinking, ‘Do I know how to do this?’” he said. “It was a matter of ‘Does she have a pulse? Is she breathing? I’ve got to do something.’”

DeKastle began performing CPR, and he noticed an improvement in Sullivan’s condition.

“She perked up a little bit,” he said. “She definitely wasn’t as purple as she was before.”

Eventually, EMTs showed up and DeKastle stepped aside.

DeKastle wasn’t overly optimistic about Sullivan’s chances.

“They were still doing compressions as I drove away,” he said.

He wondered whether she’d survive.

In fact, not only did she survive, but Sullivan has had an incredible recovery. She didn’t have any broken bones and has returned to work with very few mental or physical repercussions from the accident.

Sullivan and DeKastle are both devout Christians, and in the end, they are thankful that their paths crossed that fateful day.

“She believes – like I do – that there is more than just luck in her being alive,” DeKastle said.

In turn, Sullivan is thankful that DeKastle was the right person in the right place at the right time.

“I’ve broken down crying several times at home,” Sullivan said. “I just keep thinking about how he never gave up on me, he never stopped. He stayed the course.”

Sullivan’s daughter, Mel Beers, was especially emotional after meeting DeKastle, and she thanked him profusely for his efforts.

“Not many people get to meet real heroes,” she said to DeKastle. “But you are a real hero.”

DeKastle was a little taken aback by that statement.

“I don’t know that I see it as me being heroic as much as it was about the skillset that I had that no one else at that moment did,” he said.

DeKastle then turned his attention to Sullivan.

“I don’t think this is about me,” he said. “This is about you, and this is about the fact that you survived.

“It’s been a joy to meet you.”

Note: On Sept. 26, the City of Nampa honored DeKastle's efforts with a small event at one of its firehouses, with Nampa mayor Debbie Kling making a short speech in recognition.