State Rep. Becky Carney's push to get people to think more carefully about their health has already won over a few converts: her grandchildren.

They've picked up on her routine of reading nutrition labels more carefully. It's a small step, Carney admits. But she thinks it could be a steppingstone toward encouraging more people to make healthy choices, The Charlotte Observer's April Bethea reports.

And she hopes sharing her own story can be a guide.

It's been more than three months since Carney, 64, a Democrat, collapsed in her legislative office and went into cardiac arrest. The former Mecklenburg County commissioner said she is gradually rebuilding her stamina, including three-day-a-week rehab sessions.

Meanwhile, Carney also said she's become a "sponge" – learning all she can about health care, including the need to balance your physical, mental and nutritional parts of life.

"I'm so blessed that so many people have reached out to me across the state and I feel like I have a responsibility to be an example of healthy living and the holistic approach to healthy living,” she said.

Rep. Becky Carney returned to the House Tuesday and thanked the lifesavers who helped resuscitate her after a cardiac arrest on April 2.

"I want to thank these men behind me," Carney told a news conference, "from the bottom of my still-beating heart."

Carney, a Charlotte Democrat, helped Mira Batchelor, of the American Red Cross, award a certificate of recognition to:

-- Mark Fleming, a lobbyist for Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, who moved Carney from her desk where she was slumped over and laid her on the floor, which allowed shallow breathing.

-- Rep. Bob England, an Ellenboro Democrat and retired physician, who diagnosed a cardiac arrest and helped perform CPR

-- General Assembly police officers Will Smith, Willie Morris and Sgt. Forrest Johnson, who assisted with CPR and an automated defibrilator. 

"Their actions," Batchelor said, "exemplify the highest degree of concern of one human being for another who is in distress."

Carney thanked them again from the House floor and received a standing ovation to welcome her back.

The American Red Cross plans to honor a legislator and two legislative police officers who helped save Rep. Becky Carney when she suffered a cardiac arrest in April.

Red Cross officials, along with Carney and her family, are scheduled on Tuesday to present the Red Cross' Certificate of Recognition for Extraordinary Personal Action to Rep. Bob England, a retired physician and Democrat from Ellenboro, and legislative police officers Forrest Johnson and Will Smith.

Carney collapsed on April 2 near her office in the Legislative Building after going into cardiac arrest. England and the two officers administered CPR and used a portable defibrilator to revive her. She has been recovering since and is expected back at work next week.

State Rep. Becky Carney says she hopes to return to the legislature next week, more than two months after collapsing in her House office.

The Charlotte Democrat hasn’t returned since a fellow legislator and emergency crews revived her after she suffered a sudden cardiac arrest, Jim Morril of The Charlotte Observer reports.

"It takes time to build your strength back up," Carney, 64, said Monday. "As they say, I died and (was) revived."

Carney lost a pulse after collapsing due to what doctors later called heart arrhythmia.

Rep. Bob England, a physician, administered a shock from a portable defibrillator before she was taken to the hospital.

More after the jump.

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Rep. Becky Carney is out of the hospital and plans to return to the House on Tuesday, her colleagues announced today.

Carney, a Democrat from Charlotte, suffered a cardiac arrest last week that was brought on by arrhythmia, a disturbance in the regular heartbeat. Doctors implanted a hybrid pacemaker/defibrilator and she was discharged from WakeMed hospital Sunday. She was readmitted with a fever Monday, as doctors feared an infection may have developed.

Rep. Deborah Ross, a Raleigh Democrat, announced on the House floor today that Carney is scheduled to return to duty Tuesday. In her honor, Ross encouraged lawmakers to wear their own version of one of Carney's favorite accoutrements: red shoes. Ross said male House members could substitute a red tie, as she expected they did not have red shoes, with the possible exception of the often nattily-attired Rep. Larry Womble, a Winston-Salem Democrat.

Rep. Becky Carney may be released from the hospital Tuesday.

Carney, a Charlotte Democrat, was re-admitted to the hospital after she developed a fever. Carney had a hybrid pacemaker and defibrillator implanted after she suffered a cardiac arrest Thursday.

House Chaplain Jim Harry said Monday that he spoke to Carney and that she was feeling better.

"She was mad because it was going to be a month before she could golf. Now they've stretched it to 6 to 8 weeks," Harry said.

Harry said that Carney's doctors believe that legislative police officers and Rep. Bob England, an Ellenboro Democrat who is also a physician, saved her life. They administered CPR and a shock from a portable defibrillator shortly after the cardiac arrest.

Rep. Becky Carney was readmitted to WakeMed this morning and is undergoing tests for a possible infection.

Doctors implanted a hybrid defibrilator/pacemaker last week after Carney collapsed Thursday near her office in the Legislative Building. She suffered arrhythmia, a disruption of the regular heart rhythm.

Rep. Bob England, a physician who came to her aid, said she was in full cardiac arrest. He used a portable defibrilator to help revive Carney.

Carney, 64, was released from the hospital Sunday. She is a Charlotte Democrat serving her fourth term.

State Rep. Becky Carney collapsed after suffering a heart problem called arrhythmia Thursday in her office at the legislative building.

She was talking to state Rep. Verla Insko about 4:15 p.m. when she collapsed, said state Rep. Bob England, who is also physician. England was called to the Charlotte Democrat's office.

England said when he arrived, Carney was unresponsive and apparently in full arrest. England and a state Capitol Police officer began administring CPR. England administered a shock from a portable defibrillator. After the shock, Carney was talking and able to answer questions, England said.

"That's a wonderful sign," he said.

Carney, 64, was taken to WakeMed.

Carney is in her fourth term.

UPDATE: A spokesman for House Speaker Joe Hackney said Carney suffered from arrhytmia, which is a disorder of the regular heartbeat that can cause mild annoyance or a life-threatening emergency.

"She's conscious and talking to her family," said Bill Holmes, Hackney's spokesman, Thursday evening.

Recent House bills of note:

H.B. 661: City Managers on School Boards, Rep. Ray Warren

H.B. 677: Require a "First in Flight" Background, Reps. Lucy Allen, Lorene Coates, Nelson Cole and Becky Carney

H.B. 691: State Contracts/Slavery Profits, Reps. Larry Womble, Earl Jones, Annie Mobley and Earline Parmon

H.B. 708: Furlough of State Employees, Reps. Ray Rapp, Rick Glazier and Margaret Dickson

H.B. 711: Sales Tax Fairness Act, Reps. Winkie Wilkins and Dale Folwell

H.B. 724: Open Records Attorneys' Fees, Reps. George Cleveland and Curtis Blackwood