TINLEY PARK, IL — Christmas Eve is usually a time for celebration, but for Stacey Doranski, it was almost the day she lost everything. Now, four months after a life-threatening medical emergency at a local gas station, the south suburban woman has finally come face-to-face with the stranger who saved her life and the life of her unborn daughter.
A Sudden Crisis at the Pump
The nightmare began at the gas station located at 194th Street and Harlem Avenue. Doranski, who was 36 weeks pregnant at the time, was doing a routine chore—vacuuming her car—when she was suddenly struck by a brain aneurysm.
The rupture was instantaneous and debilitating. Doranski collapsed to the pavement, drifting in and out of consciousness.
“The next thing I remember, I was in the back of an ambulance,” Doranski recalled. “They were asking if I have seizures, and all I remember saying is, ‘I’m pregnant, I’m pregnant.'”
The Search for a Guardian Angel
For months following her recovery and the birth of her daughter, Piper, Doranski was haunted by a single question: Who called 911? She knew that in the case of a brain aneurysm, every second counts. Without that immediate phone call, the outcome for both her and her baby likely would have been fatal.
“The person who found me on the ground, I would just like to talk to them,” she said during her search. “I would like to thank them for not only saving my life but my daughter’s life.”
The Hero Identified
Thanks to a local investigation by NBC Chicago, the mystery hero was identified as Skyler Smith, the manager of the gas station where Doranski collapsed. In a touching virtual reunion on Tuesday night, Doranski finally got the chance to say the words she had been holding onto for months.
“I can’t even describe what it means that you made that phone call,” Doranski told Smith through tears. “You are the reason that I’m still here. You’re the reason my daughter is still here. Thank you so much.”
Smith, who is currently out on disability leave following an injury in February, remained humble about his life-saving actions. “No problem, ma’am,” he replied. “I was just doing my job. Once I saw she had a little foam from the mouth, I immediately called the police.”
A Growing Family and a New Lease on Life
Today, Doranski is adjusting to life as a mother of two. Along with her 4-year-old son, she is now cherishing every moment with 4-month-old Piper—a baby whose life started with a Christmas Eve miracle.
Medical experts say that suffering a brain aneurysm at 36 weeks pregnant is an incredibly high-risk scenario, often requiring emergency surgery and a premature C-section. The fact that both mother and child are healthy and thriving is being hailed by the Tinley Park community as nothing short of a holiday blessing.
“Congratulations on the baby, ma’am,” Smith said during their meeting, closing a chapter on a day that began in terror but ended in a lifelong bond of gratitude.
What do you think, Tinley Park? In a world where people often “mind their own business,” Skyler Smith’s quick thinking saved two lives. Do you have a story of a stranger coming to your rescue?
Share your messages of thanks for Skyler and your well-wishes for Stacey and baby Piper in the comments below!
