A 3-year-old Michigan boy is being celebrated for his quick thinking after he helped save his mother’s life when she suffered an epileptic seizure last week.
Shantell Woods of Pontiac told ABC affiliate WXYZ that she had been cooking at home on Thursday, Oct. 9, when she suddenly felt dizzy and sat down on her couch. Moments later, she lost consciousness as the seizure took hold.
“I experienced a seizure so intense that I could have lost my life,” Woods later wrote on her GoFundMe.
Her young son, Cody, quickly acted. He reportedly took his mother’s phone, held it up to her face to unlock it, and then used FaceTime to contact a family friend and neighbor named Kaya. Realizing something was wrong, Kaya immediately called 911 for help.
“I was surprised but happy he knew what to do in that moment,” Kaya told WXYZ after learning the call had come from Cody himself.
In her GoFundMe, Woods explained that she was recently diagnosed with epilepsy and has been suffering from increasingly frequent and severe seizures. She also shared that she manages both diabetes and high blood pressure.
Calling Cody “a smart kid,” Woods expressed her pride.
“I want to cry right now. He’s just my hero,” she said.
On Tuesday, Oct. 14, the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office honored Cody’s bravery during a press conference attended by both mother and son. Sheriff Michael Bouchard presented Cody with the title of junior deputy and a bag of gifts — just in time for his fourth birthday next month.
“It’s a good reminder for all parents to talk to their kids about what to do in an emergency,” Bouchard told reporters. “Do they know how to dial 911? Only in an emergency? This young man figured it out — and the best part of the story is that mom’s here.”
With a smile, Bouchard added, “I’m not sure if he’s quite of age, but we’re hiring.”
Woods thanked the officers at the event. “Thank you very much,” she said, while Cody excitedly ran around the room.
“You’ve done a good job, mom,” Bouchard replied.
In her GoFundMe, Woods explained that she is raising money to cover medical bills and basic family expenses.
“I am a mother to two children, ages 14 and 3, and my health struggles have made it impossible for me to work,” she wrote. “Over the past month, I have had more than 20 seizures, and I am constantly worried about how I will provide for my family.”
She continued, “Right now, I need support with medical bills, rent, groceries, and transportation to get my children back and forth to school. Every day is a struggle, and I am doing everything I can to keep my children safe and cared for.”
