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Jordyn Rose
A quick-thinking Chicago doorman helped save a 4-month-old girl who was having trouble breathing as her parents struggled to find a cab to the hospital during the city's St. Patrick's Day celebration.
Matthew and Kristin Howeth rushed out of their apartment building Saturday after their baby, Jordyn Rose, started screaming and gasping for air, NBC Chicago reported.
As Jordyn Rose's face became pale and her lips turned blue, the Howeths tried to get a cab to a nearby hospital — nearly impossible in the St. Patrick's Day traffic.
That's when Dwayne Neff, a doorman at a neighboring hotel, jumped into action. He told NBC Chicago it had taken him 25 minutes to hail cabs for hotel guests Saturday and he knew the couple wouldn't have success.
After he noticed the Howeths struggling, he sprinted down the street and alerted two police officers in a patrol car. The officers put the Howeths in the back of their car and rushed them to Lurie Children's Hospital.
"It was truly a case of divine intervention," Officer Karen Wojcikowski told NBC Chicago. "We were at the right place at the right time."
The couple said calling an ambulance never crossed their minds.
"We just both went into like survival mode," said Kristin Howeth. “In hindsight, maybe we should have called an ambulance, but the officers ended up getting us to the hospital faster than an ambulance would have."
Jordyn Rose was stabilized and tested at the hospital, but there was no clear indication why she was struggling to breathe, NBC Chicago said.
Her parents said it could have been an allergic reaction. Jordyn Rose was baptized Sunday.
"This girl is everything to us, and when we saw her acting the way that she was it scared us beyond belief," said Matthew Howeth. "We can't thank them enough for their fast acting and how concerned they were for us."
This story was originally published on Mon Mar 18, 2013 11:54 AM EDT
Leave a Comment:
Kudos to very quick thinking action by Dwayne Neff for his role in helping a very sick baby and her parents.No doubt, her parents will be eternally grateful to him. This just goes to show how anyone can suddenly be called upon to be hero and make a huge difference in another person's life at anytime.
Most people would just stand there. Very few people do something. Good man that Dwayne is. He saved a young baby, and the hearts of that couple.
always glad to read a story with a happy ending. Good job sir!
This article put a smile on my face. People do go out of their way to help others.
I love coincidences, last night's Sienfeld was about the doorman. This one is preferable. Good job.
Troll alert @ Jean
no comment
This story is a wonderful reminder to be kind to the people we pass in our daily lives. You never know when you will depend on them for your life or the life of your child.
I'm so glad this worked out - what a darling baby.
Just as an aside, this is excellent writing: "Her parents said it could have been an allergic reaction. Jordyn Rose was baptized Sunday." Are we to infer that her parents fear that Jordyn Rose could be allergic to holy water? ;)
Kudos to the doorman -- quick thinking!
Good job Mr. Doorman!!!!
Parents, hopefully you won't need to, but next time call 911. BTW...your daughter is beautiful.
Good Job Mr. Doorman!!!!
Parents, hopefully you won't need to again, but next time call 911. Your daughter is beautiful BTW.
Heroes come in all different varieties. What sets them apart is that they are willing to do for others things that most are not.
The doorman was using his excellent training and being vigilent that day. The poor parents were using their everyday skills and were on autopilot. You do what you are used to in panic mode. I've heard before that people in big cities try to get to the emergency room in a cab and forget that they can call 911. The emergency system is fantastic in that it brings the emergency room to your location.
I'm thankful there was someone there that had a brain to save this adorable baby!!
I'm at a loss for words as to WHY they "didn't think to call an ambulance". SERIOUSLY????