Brother and sister, ages 9 and 4, win hero award for saving mom
August 30, 2012 12:00 am • Jamar Younger and Veronica M. Cruz Arizona Daily Star
On the morning of July 13, Kevin DeMent, 9, and his younger sister Tayla displayed a calmness not usually seen in children their age.
Their mother, Melody DeMent, suffered an accidental gunshot wound at their east-side home after a gun fell out of a safe and discharged while she was reaching for some documents.
The bullet ricocheted off the safe twice and struck Melody DeMent in the upper chest, said Capt. Barrett Baker, a Tucson Fire Department spokesman.
The children ran to a neighbor’s home for help while their father, Scott DeMent, put pressure on his wife’s chest as she bled profusely.
On Wednesday, the two children and their neighbor, Asya Bakiyeva, received a Hero’s Award from the Tucson Fire Department for their quick response, which is credited with saving DeMent’s life.
The award was presented during a ceremony at Station No. 12, 250 S. Harrison Road
“I just know God had a hand in it. There’s no way I would’ve survived,” said Melody DeMent, who operates a chiropractic practice with her husband.
The incident happened in the 9700 block of East Hollow Place.
Kevin and 4-year-old Tayla ran to get help from a neighbor who was a firefighter, but he wasn’t home. So they went to Bakiyeva, a phlebotomist at Northwest Medical Center, who helped the children’s father apply pressure to Dement’s wound until paramedics arrived.
“I got there and saw the husband on the phone,” Bakiyeva said. “I went and grabbed some clothes and, as soon as I saw the blood, I put clothes on the wound.”
Tucson fire Capt. Bruce Avram said people usually overreact during those situations, which can make it harder for paramedics.
“Everything went right from the 911 operator. She was able to give instructions. The cops got us in there quick. The little boy was pointing to the right place,” said Avram, who responded with paramedics from Station 12.
Kevin, a Boy Scout, credited his faith in God for helping him stay calm during the chaotic time. But when he found out his mother would be OK, joy overtook him.
“I felt like I was going to fall to the ground and cry tears of joy,” he said.
Contact reporter Jamar Younger at jyounger@azstarnet.com or 573-4115.
Oh Sandy that made my eyes blurry. Thank goodness everyone kept their heads & knew what to do & thank the Lord she’s gonna be ok!
WOW. God’s all over that story.