Local kid that saved his mom's life featured in new cartoon

SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. - A Spokane Valley eight-year-old who saved his mom's life last July is being called a hero.

Leonel Bermudez called 9-1-1 when his mom, Monica, suffered a seizure in their family's kitchen.

To celebrate his bravery and highlight his quick thinking, the Spokane Valley Fire Department credited Leonel with saving his mom's life and turned his story into a cartoon.

The cartoon created by SVFD titled "Hero Boy" debuted Wednesday morning. It depicts how Leonel successfully called for help and kept his siblings calm, which helped first responders take care of his mom.

The cartoon, voiced by Leonel himself, explains the steps he took that scary day.

"I called 9-1-1 and told the firefighters my mom needed help. I stayed on [the phone] the whole time. When they arrived, I checked to make sure it was them. While they helped my mom, I took care of my little sister," said Leonel.

The cartoon aims to resonate with the community while teaching kids what they can do if emergencies like Monica's happen.

Before the day of the emergency, Monica taught her kids how to dial 9-1-1, as she regularly had seizures and knew her kids might have to call for help when one hit.

The cartoon does a great job of showcasing that is doesn't matter how small someone is, they can still be a big hero.

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