A family’s painful journey after a sudden cardiac arrest becomes a call for awareness, compassion, and hope in Miami and beyond
A Thanksgiving visit to South Florida turned into a life-altering medical emergency for one family, reminding Miami residents how fragile — and precious — life can be. A 33-year-old mother of three is now fighting for recovery after a sudden cardiac arrest linked to an undiagnosed heart condition, drawing widespread support from the local arts and community circles.
A hidden heart condition with life-changing consequences
Rachel Pedeaux, a New Orleans resident visiting her parents in South Florida, collapsed the morning after Thanksgiving and was rushed to the hospital. Doctors later determined she has Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome, a rare condition that disrupts the heart’s electrical system and often goes unnoticed for years.
The cardiac arrest event caused a severe hypoxic brain injury, leaving Rachel in a coma for more than a month. She was initially treated at South Miami Hospital and has since been transferred to Kindred Hospital Coral Gables, where specialists are slowly weaning her off a respirator. In a hopeful development, her family recently shared that Rachel has begun breathing on her own.
Miami arts community rallies around the family
Rachel’s parents, John Rodaz and Maria Banda-Rodaz, are well-known figures in the local arts scene as founders of the Area Stage Theatre Company & Conservatory. While maintaining a constant presence at their daughter’s bedside, they are also caring for Rachel’s three young children — a responsibility shared with love, resilience, and community support…