Alert autistic youth calls 911
Special to the American
Kim Cade thought she had simply dozed off. When she woke, she wondered why several people stood around her couch.
It turns out she had suffered a seizure. Her son, Sa’Von Evans, 9, a fourth grader at Twillman Elementary School in the Hazelwood School District, called for help when he couldn’t revive her.
“It was a Sunday and I was just laying down, watching TV,” Cade recalled. “When I woke up, the police officers and paramedics were staring at me and I was just in my pajamas!”
Her son also hovered nearby.
“He got my cell phone out and called 911,” Cade said. “Then he went to the neighbors to get help.”
Evans confirmed his role.
“I called 911 and I told them my mom had a seizure and she needs to go to the hospital,” said Evans, who is autistic.
“I am very proud and I was surprised. If it wasn’t for him, there’s no telling where I’d be,” Cade added.
She credits the teachers at Twillman for working with and improving Evans’ education and outlook. Special School District educator Selena Loughridge is one of his teachers.
“He came here in the middle of the last school year. He’s a great kid and he is always happy and he participates in class,” Loughridge said.
“He’s a good friend to all of his classmates and he’s made great progress since he has been at Twillman.”
Loughridge said one out of every 150 children is diagnosed with autism and all are different.
“I have never seen two who are alike,” Loughridge said.
“He helps me keep things moving,” Cade said as her mother, Pauletta Cade, joined them.
“You know, now he says, ‘I saved you,’” Pauletta reminded her daughter. “He’ll be 50 years old and he’ll still say, “Remember when I saved you?’”