Wake County deputy's young daughter helps mom at home during heart attack, receives national award
A Wake County family faced a life-threatening crisis and their young daughter played a key role in the happy ending.
Her mom, Michelle Bennett, who was an emergency medical technician and firefighter, never thought it could happen to her.
The day of recognition for her daughter, 7-year-old Bella Bennett, was not day she was looking forward to among her classmates at Bryan Road Elementary in Garner.
Cally Edwards with the American Red Cross handled the recognition ceremony.
"Today, I’m here to talk about one special helper who made a difference," Edwards said.
It’s not that Bella is shy or embarrassed. Her dad, James Bennett, a Wake County deputy, understands.
He said, "She doesn’t like talking about it. This is the attitude of it. It’s not a bitter attitude. She just doesn’t like talking about mom being sick."
A heart attack was the last thing Michelle Bennett expected.
"Perfect health. No problems, no issues, no medicine, nothing. And it came out of nowhere," Michelle Bennett said.
Bennett’s job is to rescue other people who are having heart attacks, but on that stress-filled day four months ago, she needed Bella to take action. She picked up the phone and said, "Daddy, you have to get home. Something is wrong with mommy."
At first, hospital staff couldn’t believe Michelle Bennet was really having a heart attack, but she knew the symptoms.
"Exactly what they tell you: Pain in your arms, nausea, vomiting, chest pain and that heartburn. They knew what it was. It’s actually called SCAD heart attack; spontaneous coronary artery dissection. My heart is perfect, there’s not blockage. No, it’s healthy woman heart attack”.
Bella’s action and keeping her mom comfortable until help arrived earned her a National Life Saving Award, reserved for people not trained in live saving skills, but still take action to save a life.
"I call her my heart hero," Michelle Bennett said of her daughter. "I’m so proud of her."
That same night was the night young Bella and her dad had planned to be in her schools Sweetheart Dance. Later that day, they knew Michelle would be taken care of at the hospital, so Bella and her dad went on with their plans for the dance.
