I rechecked her neurologic status and suggested getting her to a seat. Poof-poof-poof, more pillows. She managed to get into a seat, where she seemed to recover quite well.

However, now I had to talk to the pilot. Due to tightened airplane security, I could not actually speak directly to him; I had to talk to him through a small phone, even though he was right behind the door. He asked if we needed to make an emergency landing.

For a second, I reveled in my power to have the plane landed. Then, with Gandhi-esque serenity, said, “No, I think we can just go to Florida.”

At this time, some helpful person handed me a box, which I assumed contained a defibrillator. I said thank you, which is what you say whenever a stranger hands you a defibrillator.

My patient was doing great. Heading back to my seat, I was tempted to bring the defibrillator with me just in case one more person chucked a pillow at me. (Here’s your pillow back BRRRZZZZAP!)

Everyone wanted news about the “dying” patient. I gave lots of thumbs-up and OK signs and quickly retold the story. … That’s right. I’m a hero. I helped a lady into a chair.

When I got off, the pilot asked me to meet the front gate representative. Now I was worried. The flight attendant had been escorted off the plane by EMS. Did she get an anoxic brain injury from all the pillows?

As it turns out, they were just following protocol. They called me aside just to thank me for helping.

So what did I learn from my adventure? Well, I never figured out what to do with the defibrillator, but I did finally find a place to practice medicine that had enough pillows. I also learned that even when you are off duty, you are still an ER doc.

Dr. Brandt is a board-certified emergency physician practicing in Grand Rapids, Mich., with the Grand River Emergency Medical Group.