'So Lucky to have Her': 8-Year-Old, Neighbor Honored for Saving Life of Fargo Mom
Sloan Stoltz of south Fargo knew something was wrong when her mother collapsed at home in front of her and the family's two 4-year-old twin boys on Thanksgiving weekend.
So the 8-year-old quickly FaceTimed her aunt, Jenna Lee, in Grand Forks, who told the girl to get help at neighbor Mark Donarski's house in the tight-knit Farmstead Court neighborhood in south Fargo.
Lee's husband, Jason, a law enforcement officer, meanwhile, called 911 while Donarski knew something was seriously wrong when a barefooted Sloan knocked on the door looking distraught and trembling.
He rushed over with Sloan to find 35-year-old Kadie Stoltz lying face down. A former Marine, he had been trained in CPR but that was a long time ago.
"I was in shock just seeing her lying there," Donarski said. No matter, he started performing CPR until the F-M Ambulance Service crew, firefighters and police arrived within minutes.
"They are the real heroes, they are the ones who really saved her life," Donarski said. They quickly took over care and rushed her to the hospital.
The fit and seemingly healthy mother of three had suffered a massive heart attack that led to sudden cardiac arrest.
It was a totally unexpected, said her husband, Tyler, who was gone at his job as a oil rig driller in western North Dakota. He said his wife had been working out three times a week and going for runs. In October, she had just ran in her first half-marathon.
So it was one proud mom and dad who watched Sloan and Donarski receive a Citizen Lifesaving Award or more simply called a "Hero Award" with a plaque and medal from the ambulance service, Fargo police and fire departments and the Red River Regional Dispatch Center in a ceremony on Wednesday. Sloan also got a teddy bear.
Sloan said after the ceremony that she was "scared" when she saw her mom collapse and that she really doesn't like thinking about it because it brings her back to the Nov. 25 incident.
She said she thought first about FaceTiming her aunt on her mom's cellphone because her mom was such "close friends" with Lee.
But she really didn't know what to do or where to go at first, she said.
Kadie said she can't believe how her 8-year-old stayed so calm and did all the right things.
Tyler also said his daughter, who started the life-saving rescue by recognizing the seriousness of the situation, is "something special"
"We are so lucky to have her. She is terribly intelligent and in tune to how people feel. We are so proud of her," he said.
Donarski agreed that Sloan was one "amazing" child.
Tyler said the chain of events also involved some luck, with the aunt answering her phone and the neighbors being at home.
Now, though, just 17 days after the heart attack, the lucky mom is doing well.
Story Credit: https://bismarcktribune.com/news/state-and-regional/so-lucky-to-have-her--year-old-neighbor-honored/article_91b88f8a-05b2-5a3e-b760-d7740990ab84.html
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