A teen whose heart stopped three years ago was reunited with his life-saving team Tuesday. The Providence Holy Cross Trauma patient was inspired to become a nurse.

Fifteen-year-old Matt Scalice was racing underwater in a swimming pool when his heart stopped. He was rushed to the trauma center at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills clinging to life and, if he survived, facing a high possibility of brain damage.

Now three years later, Matt is fully recovered and about to graduate high school.

On Tuesday, he was reunited with his surgeon, David Hanpeter, M.D., the ICU nurse who gave him hope after 12 days in a coma, Michael Andringa, RN, and the rescue squad members who never knew Matt’s story has a very happy ending.

Matt became the first teenage patient at Providence Holy Cross to undergo hypothermic treatment, which reduces the body temperature to save brain function and prevent neurological damage.

On Thursday Matt graduates from high school and plans to pursue a career as a nurse.