It's easy to panic in a medical emergency, but 9-year-old Aleksandra Sheridan has shown she's cool enough to save her own life and her mother's.
Jennifer Sheridan, who has Type 1 Diabetes, was driving near Center and Laraway Roads in Frankfort. Her third grade daughter, a passenger in the car, was forced to act quickly when her mother's blood sugar dropped dangerously low and she passed out behind the wheel.
"We went off the road and I was screaming and crying," Aleksandra says of the incident. " We were still moving and we were about to hit a tree... I turned off the keys... then I fed her some chocolate bars so her sugar would get a little higher."
"We started heading towards home and that was the last I remember," her mother Jennifer explains. "I didn't go into a coma it's called a low blood sugar reaction... blood sugar drops very low, a lot symptoms, sweating, confusion... that's the point I was at."
"At one point she went through a stoplight and then at the next point she was going over 70 miles per hour," Alexandra recalls. "She slowed down once I told her to and we ended up going off the road."
Sheridan says Frankfort police were called by a passerby. As it turns out, this isn't the first time her daughter has come to the rescue.
"She started sitting on the floor and dripping sweat, I was seven, I had to call the ambulance for her," says the young girl.
This latest close call happened last Friday. Young Aleksandra showed us her reward for her heroic efforts including a golden duck.
"This is the golden duck award and they gave it to me," Aleksandra boasts. "They gave it to me for being a hero. Thank God that we didn't get hurt and we didn't get into an accident or hurt anyone else."
Aleksandra tells FOX 32 that when she grows up she plans to be a teacher, a doctor, and a paramedic.
As for Jennifer Sheridan, she says she will now administer her diabetes medicine via an insulin pump.
Thursday, May 16 2013 9:49 PM EDT2013-05-17 01:49:53 GMT
Mayor Emanuel will celebrate two years in office by unveiling "Elevate Chicago" on Thursday, a series of construction projects to improve Navy Pier and McCormick Place.
Mayor Emanuel will celebrate two years in office by unveiling "Elevate Chicago" on Thursday, a series of construction projects to improve Navy Pier and McCormick Place.
Monday, February 25 2013 1:41 PM EST2013-02-25 18:41:37 GMT
Just as Oscar host Seth MacFarlane set his sights on a variety of targets with a mixture of hits and misses, the motion picture academy spread the gold around to a varied slate of films.
Just as Oscar host Seth MacFarlane set his sights on a variety of targets with a mixture of hits and misses, the motion picture academy spread the gold around to a varied slate of films.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 10:44 PM EDT2013-05-22 02:44:55 GMT
In Englewood, Altgeld Elementary is shutting down, but staying open. Wentworth Elementary is moving there and taking over, making everyone unhappy about something.
In Englewood, Altgeld Elementary is shutting down, but staying open. Wentworth Elementary is moving there and taking over, making everyone unhappy about something.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 10:41 PM EDT2013-05-22 02:41:10 GMT
Jenn Gibbons embarked on a two month trip around the perimeter of Lake Michigan to raise money for the non-profit organization she founded for breast cancer survivors called Recovery on Water, or ROW.
Jenn Gibbons embarked on a two month trip around the perimeter of Lake Michigan to raise money for the non-profit organization she founded for breast cancer survivors called Recovery on Water, or ROW.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 10:28 PM EDT2013-05-22 02:28:58 GMT
Members of the Board of Education will likely vote Wednesday to shut down dozens of schools, but sources tell FOX 32 News that at least a few on a list of 54 proposed closings will likely be spared.
Members of the Board of Education will likely vote Wednesday to shut down dozens of schools, but sources tell FOX 32 News that at least a few on a list of 54 proposed closings will likely be spared.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 10:20 PM EDT2013-05-22 02:20:15 GMT
Emergency crews searched the broken remnants of Moore, Okla. for survivors of a tornado that flattened homes and demolished an elementary school. At least 24 people were killed, including at least nine children.
Emergency crews searched the broken remnants of Moore, Okla. for survivors of a tornado that flattened homes and demolished an elementary school. At least 24 people were killed, including at least nine children.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 6:42 PM EDT2013-05-21 22:42:17 GMT
A man impersonating a police officer pulled over a northwest suburban student as she was drove to school Monday, searching her car before letting her leave, Pioneer Press is reporting.
A man impersonating a police officer pulled over a northwest suburban student as she was drove to school Monday, searching her car before letting her leave, Pioneer Press is reporting.
