Authorities in Michigan are saying a three-year-old boy is a hero after he managed to unlock his mother’s phone using her face while she experienced a severe epileptic seizure and then summoned life-saving help on a video call.
Cody James Williams’ actions serve as “a good reminder for all parents that you should talk to your kids [about what to] do in an emergency”, the Oakland county sheriff, Michael Bouchard, said at a 14 October news conference where he honored the boy by symbolically deputizing him as a junior member of his office.
“This young man figured it out,” Bouchard remarked. “The most important win … is that mom’s here.”
As Cody’s mother, Shantell Woods, told the local news outlet WXYZ, she was cooking at her home on 9 October when she felt dizzy, took a seat on a couch and fell unconscious from a seizure.
The seizure was “so intense that I could have lost my life”, Woods later wrote on the GoFundMe platform, where she asked in part for assistance with medical bills.
Cody had reportedly seen such episodes from Woods previously, and therefore he had an idea of what to do in case it happened again while they were alone. Woods wrote on GoFundMe that she has had more than 20 seizures of seemingly increasing intensity in recent months as she grapples with diabetes and high blood pressure while raising Cody and another child aged 14.
An attentive Cody immediately grabbed Woods’ phone, held the device up to her so it could unlock using the face recognition feature, and called a neighbor, according to Bouchard and the child’s mother.
“Help mommy, help mommy,” Cody said to the neighbor, as reported by WXYZ. The neighbor immediately called first responders, and they soon came to treat Woods.
“It’s amazing – I was surprised but happy he knew what to do,” the neighbor reportedly said to WXYZ.
Bouchard later invited Woods to speak at the news conference where Cody was honored with a junior deputy’s recognition as well as items meant to celebrate his fourth birthday in November.
“He’s my hero – he’s my superhero,” Woods said to Cody, whom she held in her arms at one point during the briefing.
Addressing Cody, Woods added: “I’m very proud of you – you saved my life. I could have been gone.”
Bouchard, for his part, said: “Mom, we just got to know him and we’re proud of him. You did a good job, mom.
“We’re glad you’re OK. And we’re glad you’re here. And we’re thankful for Cody.”
