On March 9th of 2023, I presented to ECU Health with a complaint of chest pain. Diagnosed with an enclosed rupture of the ascending aorta I was rushed to the OR hypotensive and bradycardic. I was in profound hypothermic cardiac arrest for 34 min and nearly bled to death. The next morning, on my 47th birthday I woke up in the ICU. This is my story. I will include dialog about what it was like being a critical care flight paramedic suffering from an enclosed rupture and lessons that can be applicable to providers in the field. Core: Cardiology