The Flywire

One Sunday evening, my son runs up the steps and yells "Ma, come here!" I'm on the phone but quickly realize something is seriously wrong. I tell my girlfriend I have to go. I hang up and rush to follow him. In a panic, he says "It's grandma. Something is wrong with grandma." Seconds later I reach the basement to see him kneel- ing next to the unconscious body of my mother. My son is breathlessly telling me "I heard something earlier. I heard a sound but ignored it. I should of been here earlier. It 's my fault." "It's not your fault," I respond. "Go get the phone and call 9-1-1." I check my mom's condition and call her name. I can see she's bleeding. She doesn't repsond but she is breathing heavily, matter of fact, she sounds like she's snoring. This was a relief to me. My son quickly returns and hands me the phone. I speak to the emergency operator. I see the concern in my son's eyes but he joins me as we both follow the operator's step by step directions as I repeat them out loud. The paramedics arrive and we assist them the best we can. He removes himself from the room and I know he's distraught. He's very upset. He's only 14 years old. I let him be. I continue to speak with the paramedics and he rejoins the scene. When the am- bulance leaves with my mom. I hug him. We rush to get dressed. I pack up my mom's things, secure the house and we leave for the hospital. He repeats the story. "It's all my fault. I heard a noise and didn't think anything of it. I don't know how long Grandma was in the basement. I should have been there sooner. Something made me get up to go check the basement and that's when I found her." I told him. "Boy you saved her life. If it wasn't for you she wouldn't be getting the help she needs right now." He just shook his head and said "She was in the basement by herself. She was all by herself." When his father arrived to the hospital. I told him how upset our son was. His Dad sat him down and explained to him. You are looking at it in the wrong way. Son, you were not late. You were right on time. God sent you to the basement at the perfect time. You arrived at the precise second to save your grand- mother's life. My mother was unconscious for 10 days but she fought back and survived a stroke and a brain bleed. I tease and call her our miracle baby. After 3 weeks in the hospital she learned that her grandson saved her life. She's so proud and tells everyone he's her hero. When we knew things were better for mom, my son and I had a serious talk. He didn't see himself as an hero. He told me "Ma not once did you panic or cry. You just jumped in and was super strong. I wasn't like you." "Don't compare yourself to my crazy ass," I ex- plained. "I'm not normal. I get scared but my gift is handling stress under pressure. I can't explain it but I'm just built like that." It dawned on me. He still didn't understand how brave he was. "You handled this situation better than most adults I know. There are 3 human reactions in crisis. Some people freeze, some people run and others jump in and do what they have to do. Every person will experience each reaction during their lifetime and it's nothing wrong with that. I want you to know that you exhibited the character I admire in a man. You stepped up, jumped in and didn't hesitate to save your grandmother's life. Even while you were upset. That's what heroes do. I am proud of you. BRAVEHEART Text: M. E. Crump

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