Sandra Chapman’s Post

This week I co-hosted the ONR/NAVSEA Undersea Medicine Program Review featuring ~50 world-renowned scientists all dedicated to solving some of Diving’s hardest challenges. The ideas were flowing, the brilliance was unmatched and most importantly the goal was clear, protect and empower our Nation’s undersea warriors. I was also blessed with the opportunity to include in the agenda Chris Lemons who gave us his first hand account of the story behind the Last Breath movie. Chris is the survivor of a diving accident that remains a medical mystery and challenged our community to hypothesize the physiologic explanation behind his survival. We debated hypothermia. Hyperoxia, hypercapnia, combinations… Some complex interaction of all three? I still lean to cryopreservation. Many of us debated how we could remodel the event to resolve the unanswered questions. It was a stimulating thought exercise with the researchers that I respect tremendously and appreciate being a part of my goal to improve diving safety through scientific discovery. Chris’s story was fascinating to us scientists but it was more than that. He is sincere and humble and genuine and gracious. The way he tells his story grounds us in the meaning of our existence in such an honest and down-to-earth way that makes you realize how precious and fragile life is. He didn’t sugar coat anything which left you knowing he was ‘keeping it real’. It was an absolute honor that I feel blessed to have been a part of. Thank you Chris! Hope we connect again 🤿 Chris Lemons Frauke Tillmans Dawn Kernagis Virginie Papadopoulou Office of Naval Research