|
|
|
|
ABOUT US
While visiting my family in Northeastern Ohio for the July 4th holiday in 2003, we attended a church festival. The festival is in a small town, just under 10, 000 where my father grew up and everyone knows everyone.
While my husband, son Simon (2 ˝), nephew and a family friend are enjoying rides and games I talked with friends and other family members. Suddenly someone comes up to the table and tells us Simon was hurt. My initial thought is that he fell and has a scraped knee or bruised elbow, very common for a toddler.
The next thing I know I am looking at my son, unconscious and receiving CPR from the church priest (EMT trained) and another woman is asking me his name and helping. (I later learned she is a pediatric emergency room nurse) Time seems to be standing still, people are just staring. An off duty police officer has called 911.
By the time the ambulance arrives Simon is crying and disoriented. The police officer helps me into the ambulance where an EMT is trying to get an IV into Simon, who is in and out of consciousness, and the driver is asking me a lot of questions.
After a CAT scan and an evening in the pediatric ICU, Simon awakes the next morning and says, “Mommy, do you want to play cars?” The neurologist explains to us Simon suffered a concussion from simply falling in a moon bounce. Simon receiving CPR within seconds of his injury saved his life and for this I am eternally grateful to HEROes who are always on the job, even while attending a festival with their family.
THE BEGINNING OF NEIGHBORHOOD HERO
After experiencing such a life changing event, I felt an inner push to do something. Of course I wrote an open letter to the church congregation thanking everyone who helped, but that didn’t seem like enough. Some time had passed; I was in my regular routine of being a Mom, working, etc. when again the thoughts of doing something crept in….but what?
People who are first responders, nurses, teachers, military are their profession 24 hours a day 7 days a week, it is who they are. When a situation like mine, presents itself they react instinctively. Most disheartening to me is they are some of the lowest paid professions in the country. So what can one Realtor in Atlanta do to make a difference?
I started asking the inspector, closing attorney, lender, contractor, insurance agent and others I have worked with for years if they would provide a discount. They all said yes! Was it because of my story? Maybe, but what I learned is they have their own stories. The closing attorney’s father was the oldest living firefighter in Georgia; the lender has been involved with the Emerald Society for years.
Neighborhood HERO first served a retired Florida firefighter and the wife of a fallen military hero. Read our HERO Stories >
NEIGHBORHOOD HERO NOW
Coming into its second year of giving back Neighborhood HERO has been reformulated to provide a national network of quality businesses, substantial discounts and a family of local affiliates available to assist you in your community.
|
|
|
|
|
|
National Headquarters:
Phone: (404) 531-3219 | 200 Glenridge Point Parkway, Suite 100 Atlanta, GA 30342
|
|
|
