"She handled herself better than most adults would," said the 911 dispatcher.
A brave young girl's ability to think on her feet helped her mother escape a serious medical emergency. On February 2, when her mother fell unconscious in their house, 9-year-old Girl Scout Aria Lamen jumped and thought on her feet. They were the only ones at home. Talking about the incident to Good Morning America, Aria shared that she was just doing her homework in their dining room when Caron, her mom, suddenly collapsed.
“Out of nowhere, I just passed out … I briefly remember going in and out of consciousness, I was on the floor and I couldn’t move or feel my entire left side. I could not speak at all, the words were not coming out,” said Caron, who has had a history of spinal cord issues.
After calling her father, who had served as an Air Force medic for 20 years, Aria calmly dialed 911 and waited with her mother until help came. Aria was also able to lock her house, put their dog away, and alert emergency services about her mother's allergies before the ambulance arrived.
“In the ambulance, they wanted to know my allergies, medications, and all that because I'm allergic to a lot of stuff,” said Caron. “[Aria] said, ‘Well, here I have my mother's phone. I know all that information is on her phone, let me unlock it'." The mom said she was “beyond impressed.”
"She handled herself better than most adults would," said Aurora 911 dispatcher, Traci Whalen, to ABC7, who has served 30 years in Aurora. "It was one of the best calls in my career."
Aria Lamen, 9, called 911 when her mother suddenly passed out last month. On Tuesday, Aria was honored for her quick thinking.
— Chicago Sun-Times (@Suntimes) March 15, 2023
“She handled herself better than most adults would,” said emergency dispatcher Traci Whalen. https://t.co/7gGoGepzZQ
Aria says she kept thinking about the fact that her mom needed her help, and that's what helped her stay calm. “Was it really worth it to keep on panicking? Because it's not going to get me anywhere. And if I call daddy and he arrives too late, then it's too late,” said Aria. “That's why I called the police.”
"For her to do what she did and stay so calm is amazing," Caron said. The city of Aurora felt like they should recognize the 9-year-old's bravery in helping her mother get out of a medical emergency. That bravery and courage were felicitated at an event by the city of Aurora on March 14, per Daily Herald.
Aria Lamen was doing homework when her mother collapsed. Now she is being heralded as a hero for her quick-thinking and calm demeanor that potentially saved her mother’s life. https://t.co/k2Ro4rUhM0
— ABC News (@ABC) March 16, 2023
"Your courage and calmness made all the difference. Congratulations, young lady," Mayor Richard Irvin said at the event, congratulating Aria.
"Seeing me on the floor was not easy, I'm sure it wasn't at all," Caron said to her daughter at the ceremony. "But you did such a great job and I'm super proud of you and I love you. You're my little nurse; you're my little angel."
When she grows up, Aria, shared that she wants to be a doctor, to be able to educate others about emergency preparedness and protect other families. "I just care about telling kids that they need to learn these things, that way their parents or anyone is safe," Aria said. “Kids should know how to call 911 … and their parent’s phone number, what's their address,” Aria told Good Morning America.
“You’re my little nurse, and you’re my little angel.”
— Sara Machi (@saramachi) March 14, 2023
Aurora, IL honors local 9-year-old, Aria Lamen, who made a 911 call that saved her mother’s life.
Aria’s poise under pressure on @cbschicago tonight at 10 pic.twitter.com/LHyBAzDQ1X
References:
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/family/story/9-year-girl-honored-saving-mothers-life-97890804
https://abc7chicago.com/aurora-aria-lamen-girl-scout-city-hall/12952143/
Cover Image Source: Facebook | Caron Lamen
