I’ve done CPR a lot of times.
Chest compressions and ventilations. Shock or no shock.
Most of them don’t make it. You learn that early.
But still, we try.
We kneel, almost like prayer. We sweat. We count.
We talk like they can hear us.
We act like it matters. And that’s the point.
Sometimes I think about the other things I do for people that don’t work.
I send the text even when I know they won’t answer.
I check in on friends who say they’re fine but blink too slowly.
I sit with students who failed the same scenario three times and don’t know how to walk back into the room.
None of it fixes anything.
But CPR doesn’t fix anything either, most of the time.
It just keeps something going that would otherwise stop.
I’ve heard it said CPR buys time.
Fine. I’ll buy time.
Even if it’s just enough for someone else to show up.
Even if nothing changes.
Because sometimes trying is the only rhythm left in the room.
Ghosts of the Navigator 