Carson woman's officially a hero

Carson City's Peggy Willis was named as the Workplace Hero at the Red Cross Real Heroes Breakfast in Reno on Thursday morning.

"Everyone was really wonderful. It was a just a roomful of amazing people, and it felt nice to be part of that," she said.

Willis was honored for her quick action on Feb. 18, 2009, when she found State of Nevada Computer Facility supervisor Dennis Sannebeck slumped over his desk.

A contracted custodian, Willis gathered up several employees to perform CPR and used the facility's defibrillator to restart Sannebeck's heart.

She was among 16 honored at the annual breakfast where category winners receive a Wheaties box adorned with their picture.

"I thought it was so appropriate because my parents used to tell me all the time, if you don't change your ways you're going to end up on a milk carton. Well, I ended up on a box, but it wasn't a milk carton and it wasn't at the post office," she said.

Willis was accompanied to the event by Sannebeck, Kevin Baily, who nominated her, and her boss at the janitorial company she works for.

Also nominated at the event was Willis' former doctor, Peter Lim.

She said Lim saved her life a few years ago when he removed cancer from her body.

"So I got to thank him for saving my life, so I could save Dennis' life," she said.

All proceeds from this event will go toward providing emergency assistance to families in the area who are displaced from their homes due to fires or other disasters.

The breakfast was sponsored by KTVN Channel 2 News, The Nevada Appeal, Americom Broadcasting, Harrah's Reno, Renown Health, NV Energy, Charles Schwab Bank, Q&D Construction, Reno Police Department, GE Energy, Washoe County Honorary Deputy Sheriff's Association, AT&T and UPS.