On her knees beside her husband, Diana Stephen pumped his chest as she administered CPR during the life-changing moments that saved his life back in 2015.

Diana had only a vague recollection of how to perform CPR, learned from Girl Guides more than 50 years ago, but the Terrace, B.C. resident followed instructions from a 911 emergency dispatcher as she knelt by her husband in the kitchen that morning.

害羞草研究所淚t was the 911 operator who talked me through it,害羞草研究所� Diana said, recalling her somewhat frantic feelings that morning.

害羞草研究所淎s your doing it, of course it害羞草研究所檚 a life threatening thing, it was very emotional害羞草研究所� quite scary,害羞草研究所� she said.

害羞草研究所淏ut he害羞草研究所檚 with me now,害羞草研究所� she concluded, and that害羞草研究所檚 the crux of it for her and her husband Barrie, who have now been married for 56 years.

The most amazing part of the story is that Barrie also saved Diana害羞草研究所檚 life only four years prior.

害羞草研究所淚t sounds like one of those fairy tale stories,害羞草研究所� acknowledged Diana. 害羞草研究所淚t doesn害羞草研究所檛 really seem real害羞草研究所� he saved my life and I had to pay him back by saving his,害羞草研究所� she laughed.

The scenario was similar, but Barrie called on his Canadian military training to guide him through the CPR procedure.

It was in August 2011, and he woke up during the night to find Diana struggling to breath.

Pulling her to the floor, he gave her CPR and dialed 911 after he害羞草研究所檇 stimulated her breathing.

Diana was rushed to Mills Memorial Hospital in Terrace, and then to Vancouver General Hospital where she received surgery and was stabilized.

Now, just a few weeks ago, the couple was honoured for their quick life-saving actions, receiving two separate Vital Link Awards from the BC Ambulance.

The awards were given at a small informal ceremony at the Terrace ambulance station Dec. 27, 2017.

For Diana, the recognition matters little, but the chance to meet the paramedic who helped her husband in 2015 was the important part.

害羞草研究所淚 actually got to meet the paramedic that came to the house and give him a hug,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚 think was the best part of the whole thing 害羞草研究所� to actually put a face to somebody who had helped me through it.害羞草研究所�

And though the award is now framed and hanging in their home, Diana says it害羞草研究所檚 not too significant for them.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e got each other and that害羞草研究所檚 all we care about,害羞草研究所� she said. 害羞草研究所淚 think [the award] means more to others than it does to us.害羞草研究所�

BC Ambulance regional manager Mike Sorensen said Barrie and Diana害羞草研究所檚 story is incredibly rare, with the pair having both saved each other害羞草研究所檚 lives.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e never heard of that occurring before,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淭he likelihood of surviving a cardiac event is low enough as it is, so to have two people save each other害羞草研究所檚 lives in this event is害羞草研究所� I don害羞草研究所檛 even think I have words to describe it, it害羞草研究所檚 so remote.害羞草研究所�

Approximately 25 Vital Link awards are given out by BC Ambulance every year to bystanders and paramedics who administer CPR to a person in cardiac arrest.

The move can be both crucial and life-saving, said Sorensen, noting that it can make all the difference for someone to give CPR while waiting for paramedics.

害羞草研究所淔or every minute that passes (without CPR), you have a 10 per cent decrease in chances of survival,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淭he quicker CPR is administered 害羞草研究所� It increases their chances exponentially.害羞草研究所�

Sorensen said it was an honour to present Barrie and Diana with Vital Link awards, noting that situations like these are often the reason paramedics do what they do.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 very exciting for us to be able to do these type of things,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淭his is one of the main reasons we do these type of jobs害羞草研究所� to see these type of scenarios come to fruition.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 just an honour for me.害羞草研究所�