Sister, Hero: Lake Area 12-Year-Old Awarded For Helping Save Her Brother's Life

When her 10-year-old brother was struggling to breathe, 12-year-old Rebecca Lear of Laurie, Mo. stepped in and remained calm to help medical personnel save his life.

The Gravois Fire Protection District recently awarded Rebecca for her heroic actions.

Saving Truman

According to GFPD A-Shift Captain Randy Scott, he and firefighter D.J. Mitchell were dispatched to a medical emergency on Dec. 22 to a residence in Laurie.

Rebecca and her brother Truman were spending the night with their grandmother, Becky Talley, who said Rebecca alerted her that something was wrong with Truman. He was having a seizure and vomiting.

Since birth, when he weighed little more than a pound, Truman has been non-verbal, breathing out of a tracheotomy tube.

"I had to quickly suction the vomit because he can't get anything in his tube. I needed Rebecca to call 911," Talley said. "It was scary. Right before the holidays, and not knowing if he would be with us at Christmas. I thank God for Rebecca. Without her, Truman may not have made it."

On arrival, firefighters found Truman in extreme respiratory distress, having difficulty breathing.

“We did not know the history of his condition,” Captain Scott said. “His sister Rebecca, despite being scared to death for her brother, was able to remain calm and give us the information we needed to help him.”

12 Year Old Given Citizens Award of Merit For Helping Save Her Brother — Gravois FPD

The Gravois FPD held a special awards ceremony on Feb. 8 at district headquarters in Laurie. They presented the Citizens Award of Merit to Rebecca for her assistance during the medical emergency involving her brother.

Award presenters included Gravois firefighters, Missouri State Fire Marshall Tim Bean, and Laurie Police Chief Mike Nienhuis. Rebecca said she felt honored, and appreciated the award.

"We are so incredibly proud of Rebecca," parents Jason and Stacy Lear said. "She is an amazing young lady, and we are blessed beyond measure because of her actions and love for her brother."

“The way she held it all together and contained her composure, for her age, was extraordinary,” Captain Scott commended. “She stayed with us the entire time. We wanted to recognize her for her bravery and for what she did for her brother.”

Truman is now back in school doing well. Once his oxygen levels were normal, Children's Hospital in St. Louis released him, just in time for Christmas Eve.

"Rebecca and their grandmother made it possible for us to have another Christmas with Truman," said the Lears. "Without her ability to communicate with Truman in his time of need, we may not have been so lucky."

The First Baptist Church of Lebanon hosted Captain Scott and firefighter Mitchell to honor the first responders and celebrate Truman’s wellness over dinner with the family.

"I was very impressed with the way they handled my grandchildren," Talley said. "They do not get enough recognition for all they do for the community."