Kimberly Smith:It was a day like any other.
So, I turned back.
The managers office was empty.
That was unusual, but finally one of the managers appeared, soaking wet.
I could see from the look on her face that something traumatic had happened.
She said, Smitty, do you know CPR?
Her skin was pale, yellow, a little purplish.
A boy her brother, I later found out knelt near her head.
I had learnedCPRduring my six years inthe Army, and I had seen it performed multiple times.
I knew that I had the skills to save this young lady, who was just a teenager.
I could see only the whites of her eyes, and she felt frozen.
Each time a little faster.
Wait five, six seconds.
I continued, more rapidly with each round.
The whole time, I was crying.
Finally, after the third set of compressions, she started to cough up water and breathe.
I thought:Shes alive.
As she started to regain consciousness, I could hear sirens in the distance.
I left as soon as the paramedics arrived.
I was overcome, in shock … dazed.
But the officer went into shock along the way, and he died in my arms.
I couldnt help him.
That was the first time I saw anyone die, but not the last.
I was so very glad that the young lady by the pool had lived.
Two weeks later, she and I were reunited.
But its a beautiful day when you might.
Kimberly Smitty Smith, 66, is a U.S.
Postal Service letter carrier who lives in Fountain, Colorado.
