Thursday two young people were recognized by Mayor Harvey Hall, for their efforts to save their great grandmother's life.
Last July Irene Sample was walking with Eunique Latchison, her great granddaughter, to pick up some used books to donate to her church.
Once they arrived back home, it became obvious that the heat of the day had taken a toll on her, so she asked Eunique to get her something to drink out of the refrigerator.
That is when Sample collapsed. "I asked for some water, and when I got the water Bam! I went out," she said.
Eunique, 12, grabbed her brother Darian who started performing CPR while she called 9-1-1.
"In the first few seconds when the person was talking to me about doing it, I didn't really feel like I was doing anything. But I blocked it out of my mind and the only thing there at that time was me and my grandma, nothing mattered to me, it was just keeping my grandma alive," Darian said.
"My arms felt weak, they felt like little noodles, so you know me pushing down as hard as I can, I was just unsure," he said.
Darian was very concerned about his great grandmother dying, as she took him in at a young age. "What's going to happen to my sister if everything doesn't go well right now? Because my sister's been with my grandma since birth, so she didn't have to go through what we went through, when we were out on the streets then. So for her if we were thrown back out there, it would've been more traumatizing," He said.
He continued CPR with his sister's help until the paramedics arrived.
Sample's pulse was lost a couple times on the way to the hospital, she made a slow but successful recovery. Thursday she stood with her grandchildren and the paramedics who all played a role in saving her life.
The paramedics were awarded for going above and beyond the call of duty. Marsha Aase visited Sample in the hospital twice to ensure she was recovering. She and EMT William Cassidy received the Star of Life award.
"For the people who are out there, don't take life for granted. Care for your parents, or your guardian," Eunique said.
Now Darian is 16, plays saxaphone in his high school band and plans to go into jazz band next year. His sister Eunique inspired others to learn CPR because of her actions.
"I thought it was cool that Eunique did it to her grandma," the daughter of Aase said, wanting to protect her mother in the future as well.
There are several places you can get CPR certified in Bakersfield:
