You may already know that David McCullough is the Pulitzer Prize winning author of such best sellers as John Adams, The Wright Brothers, Truman, Brave Companions, The Johnstown Flood,  The Path Between the Seas, and The Pioneers. Or you may recognize his voice as the narrator of The American Experience, the film, Seabiscuit, or Ken

As my husband and I approached our 60s, conversations with our various social groups inevitably led to discussions about where we would all like to retire, usually so we could continue in our fellowship – these conversations often held after a few cocktails- and depending upon the crowd, Steve and I would shift our responses to fit the scene– south for the weather, north for the skiing, summer haunts to be with old friends and family.

I once lived with a man whose avocation was cycling: He’d wake up before dawn, ride from Chelsea to Central Park, loop all the way around the park, then return, stretch, shower, and go to work. Some weekends he took 100-mile bike rides with groups. He factored in his age (early forties) by not riding if the temperature was lower than his age or if it was raining.

His right arm severed below the elbow, Andy Wirth, had only minutes to live. What happened next has got to be heard to be believed. It all started with Andy, a trained first-responder himself, following the advice he had given countless victims he had encountered in trauma situations in the past: Just breathe.