Louis's Hero Day

Earlier this year, we were surprised and amazed to hear that Louis, a six-year-old boy in our Adoption program, saved the life of his school librarian using the emergency skills his foster mom Veronica taught him. 

Louis’s class was in their school library, listening to the librarian read them a story.  Louis noticed that the librarian’s hand was shaking, and asked if she was alright.  As she tried to reply, she started slurring her words. When Louis asked if she’d like some water she said yes, so he went to get her some. When he came back, the librarian’s speech was slurring even more.  As Louis handed her the water, she dropped the cup and fell out of the chair, shaking.  

Louis’s classmates got very upset, and some started crying. Even though he was scared too, Louis ran to the next classroom and told the teacher what was happening. The teacher came running.  They called for an ambulance, and EMTs came quickly to take care of the librarian. They learned that the librarian had a history of seizures, and that things could have gone very wrong if Louis hadn’t gone for help. 

Louis learned how to react to an emergency from Veronica, whose foster home he has been in for three years now, along with his brother Emitt. Veronica is a single parent, and for safety reasons she told the two brothers in her foster home that if anything should ever happen to her, they should call 911. Veronica keeps that number posted on her refrigerator in case they ever need it. She made sure to remind the boys multiple times that if they call this number, the police will then be able to call for an ambulance if necessary.  

When it comes to teaching kids about resources they can use in times of need, Veronica said that sometimes people assume kids don’t take that information in. However, it is clear that in Louis’s case, he knew exactly when to go for help. Veronica remarked, “It was so amazing when I got the phone call to say that he had helped save this teacher’s life...they were telling me what he’d done and that he was a hero.”   

For his brave act of heroism, Louis got a big hug from Veronica, his favorite dinner, and a new toy. Veronica shared this accomplishment with everyone in his family, and they called him to congratulate him on saving someone’s life.  

We are so proud of Louis for being able to respond quickly and maturely to an emergency situation. We also want to acknowledge the important role that Veronica and other foster parents play in the lives of kids like Louis. When foster parents treat the youth in their homes as a real part of their family, the connections they forge are undeniable. Even a seemingly simple act like Veronica telling the boys what to do in the case of an emergency shows that she is putting her trust in them by relying on them if something goes wrong.  

Louis took that responsibility to heart and made Veronica, the school and his family proud. And, most importantly, he helped save someone’s life! Foster parents can create these feelings of closeness and mutual trust in all kinds of ways, which attests to the power they have in shaping the lives of the youth they support and love.  

It doesn’t take a superhero to be a good foster parent. It just takes consistency, dedication and love. Interested in learning more about foster parenting? Our Family Services team would love to connect with you! Reach out to us at familyservices@helpfamilies.org, or call us at 617-876-4210. 

To learn more, visit the Vermont DCF’s guide or the CDC’s website about helping children cope with emergencies.