By Blake Haas
NORMAL – As one mother went unresponsive due to a seizure, one local seven-year-old picked up the phone and dialed 911 to try and save her mom’s life in mid-Feb.
At a ceremony on Tuesday at the Normal Fire Department Headquarters, seven-year-old Kylee Shepered was awarded the Youth Hero Award for helping save the life of her mother Amber Sheperd.
“It was awesome, it about made me cry, but it definitely made me proud,” said Amber Shepered after the 911 call was played infront of a room full of people. “She was able to tell them (McLean County 911 operator Hayden Veach) where we live and stayed on the phone and stayed calm.”
LISTEN: Click on the link below to hear the full 911 call by seven-year-old Kylee Shepered.
McLean County 911 operator Hayden Veach, who answered the 911 call, said he was taken back by how calm she was on the phone.
“It was really amazing because like you said I’ve dealt with a whole bunch of different kids,” said Veach. “(I’ve) dealt with real kids who did not mean to dial 911, and people who are trying to call but have no idea what to say or understand what I’m telling them what to do. So the fact that she knew her moms name and where she was at, and how she was able to continuously check her (Amber Shepered) to make sure she was still breathing. Things like that is kind of what surprised me.”
Normal Fire Chief Mick Humer who presented the award, added that for a girl her age, he’s nothing but proud.
“She did a fantastic job, outstanding for someone her age,” added Humer. “Even adult’s do not do as good as she did, so she did a wonderful job.”
Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].
