A Frisco teacher’s story of survival and the power of community, care, and second chances
By Stephen Hunt
Tara Yell never considered herself an inspiration to others, but that’s how many see the Bledsoe Elementary first-grade teacher, who was named Frisco ISD’s Teacher of the Year for the 2023-24 school year. “I’m not sure what to say,” Yell admitted. “It was super kind [of] the staff to vote for me. Being named District Teacher of the Year was a huge surprise, very unexpected.”
However, Yell’s inspiring work in positively impacting her students’ lives is only one part of how she inspires others. She’s also a shining example of grace, gratitude, and resiliency in the direst of circumstances, realizing that were it not for the incredible care she received during a life-threatening cardiac episode while on a family vacation in July 2022 – she wouldn’t be here.
On July 4, 2022, Yell, her husband, Tyler, and their children, Emerson, 12, and Declan, six, were at North Texas Jellystone Park in Burleson. Unfortunately, Tara’s most vivid memory of that day is remembering not feeling like herself and having to cut their water park excursion short. As they were about to leave, she collapsed in a restroom with cardiac arrest. Luckily, her daughter was there and quickly found a lifeguard to assist her mom.
That lifeguard began performing CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) on Yell, and paramedics from the Burleson Fire Department arrived after receiving a 911 call. Burleson Fire personnel continued administering CPR and used a defibrillator several times to restart Yell’s heart successfully. She was then transported by MedStar Ambulance, again receiving superior care on her way to Texas Health Huguley Hospital in South Fort Worth.
“Luckily, they had their ‘A’ team there. Luckily, we were at a place with a lifeguard because at the time, nobody in my family was CPR certified,” Yell said. “We’re all CPR certified now except for the six-year-old, but if this had happened and I had been at home, which as a teacher, that’s where I am in the summer, usually home with the kids, we wouldn’t be chatting today. Luckily, we were at a waterpark with a young, fit lifeguard that could do CPR on me for a really long time.”
She spent six days on life support before beating the odds and waking up with no brain damage. Doctors credit her recovery to the outstanding CPR she received immediately following her event. Yell remains incredibly grateful for the care she received every step of the way – from the lifeguard at Jellystone Park, Burleson Fire Department, MedStar Ambulance, at Huguley Hospital, to those who assisted her during her three months of rehabilitation and strength-building at Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation in Frisco.
“So lucky; I think a lot of the reason why I’m here today is just being at the right place at the right time. It was all luck, happenstance, whatever people believe,” Yell said. “I was so lucky. One of the ICU (intensive care unit) nurses was talking to my husband after I was coming off life support. She said, ‘So many things could have gone wrong, but everything went exactly right, and that’s why she’s here.’”
“It’s like a domino, being somewhere where there was a young lifeguard that could do CPR on me for so long and her doing it as if she was doing it on her own mother instead of a stranger to the firefighters that arrived. They went beyond protocol. They did more to save my life than what’s expected. They saw my husband and my kids, and it really pulled at their heartstrings, so they did more. They shocked me more times than the standard and fought hard for me. MedStar Ambulance had to shock and revive me during that drive [to the hospital]. Then, I got to the ER at Huguley, and they had to shock me. Every time I got handed off to somebody else…they clearly must be passionate about their job…They fought for me when I couldn’t. It really did take a village. It took so many people.”
A Shared Bond
Among Yell’s supporters who were there for her and her family during this challenging time was Lisa Barker, a fellow FISD teacher and close friend. In 2021, Yell had taught Barker’s son, Blaise, at Bledsoe, and she and Lisa became friends. So, when Tara had her life-threatening cardiac episode in 2022, Barker knew exactly what she was facing because she had been through a similar experience while awaiting a liver transplant in 2014. That trying time allowed her and her husband, Reid, also an FISD teacher, to support Yell and her family because they knew firsthand what it was like to wonder if she’d survive.
“We share that equal perspective of how every day is so precious,” Barker said. “When she did survive and woke up, I don’t think there’s a whole lot of people that can relate to her being hours away from dying and experiencing that miracle and still being alive to tell it. Our relationship just became really special and unique through that. We’ve really bonded over cherishing every moment.”
When asked to sum up her rather unique friendship and bond with Barker, Yell started by simply stating, “She’s the best.” Of course, the affable educator, wife, mom, and inspiration to many elaborated further.
“She was such an amazing person to meet because I taught her son, but we connected over our health at the time. She and Reid were such a [great] support system for us because who else has seen their young wife on life support? That really connected Tyler and Reid,” Yell said. “It was definitely what Tyler needed. Reid and Lisa are [also] the nicest, most encouraging people.”
Another Chance to Give Back
Giving back and serving in her community has always been part of Yell’s DNA. In fact, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she started a Facebook group, “Frisco Gives Back,” to thank essential personnel for their tireless service. “COVID was a hard time for all of us. It was a weird time,” Yell said. “It started with my students writing letters to senior citizen communities because they had shut down.”
“Then, we transitioned to Fastpacs, donating food. I was like, we could do something to help the hospitals. That’s when I started gathering gift cards. My thought was to help the local small businesses that were struggling because not enough people were going out. I think we raised over $11,000 worth [of gift cards.] It ended up being so much more [than I dreamed]. People wanted to help. It really was a community of people coming together. It was amazing.”
Since recovering from her cardiac episode, Yell has also given back by talking about the importance of heart health on behalf of the American Heart Association and the Burleson Fire Department. However, her ultimate moment of breaking through her comfort zone came earlier this year when she spoke at FISD’s convocation at Ford Center prior to the start of the school year in August. “It went well. It was terrifying just because of what it was, but at the same time, it was a roomful of educators, so I felt supported,” Yell said. “I didn’t feel judged. I’ve been there [before in the audience], thankful that I wasn’t the person that had to speak on stage, so I knew they were in it with me.”
“Yeah, it was definitely a great experience for growth and to get outside my comfort zone. I’ve done some things with the American Heart Association, some podcasts, and been on the news, but you can’t see the people [when you do that], so it’s not as frightening [as giving an in-person speech]. It’s just a camera, but being there with spotlights on you on a Jumbotron behind you, being able to see and not see the people because there’s so many of them…it was terrifying.”
Another positive to arise from her cardiac event is that it showed her how important at least knowing CPR can be. “My story hit quite a few people we know. I get to be a mom, a wife, a teacher, a daughter, a sister,” she said. “I get to be all these things today because of something as simple as hands-on CPR, and I’m more than happy to share my story and encourage people. It hits somewhere…hits people…it hits home. If putting a face to it and sharing my story helps people see it’s so important [then I’m all for it]. Bad CPR is better than no CPR. Just be familiar with it, be brave, and ready to step up.”
Even before her cardiac episode, Tara Yell always had a great outlook on life. However, such an episode has made her savor the little things even more. “We know how precious it is because we’re living on bonus time. We shouldn’t have had this, so there’s just a deeper appreciation and gratitude for time together, even in the mundane things,” she said.
Stephen Hunt is a longtime Frisco resident and freelance writer.
