AMARILLO, TEXAS -- The Potter Randall 9-1-1 District is honoring three 9-1-1 Telecommunicators and one kid hero. 8-year-old Keyla Streat saved her mother's life. "I just picked up my phone because I thought something weird was going on, so I called 9-1-1," said Keyla Streat, who received the local 9-1-1 Kid Hero Award on Wednesday.
Keyla said she was playing video games when her mother, who has a medical history, blacked out.
"She told me her mom was on the floor and was having a heart attack," said Monica, who took the call at the Amarillo Emergency Communications Center. She did not want to disclose her last name because of her job responsibilities.
"They asked me a bunch of questions, like where do you live and what's your phone number," said Keyla. Because she knew who to call and her address, her call-taker Monica, was able to get help to her home fast.
Wednesday she was awarded the 9-1-1 Kid Hero Award. "Keyla did a wonderful job. she did a lot of things that a lot of adults have difficulty doing and she stayed really calm throughout the call," said Monica.
"It makes me feel really proud that I can actually do this and it makes me feel really safe that I can save a life," said Keyla. But safe is not something Jinni Konis felt when an intruder broke into her home. "So I rushed back into my bedroom, grabbed my cell phone, dialed 9-1-1 and got in the closet," said Konis. Her call was received by Georgeanna, who was only on the job for 10 days, and whose last name is also being withheld.
"Then I heard him in the bedroom and then she said don't talk anymore, he could hear you. I was hoping he wasn't hearing my breathing and then she said the police are there," said Konis.
Police caught her intruder as he was slipping out through the side-door. Wednesday Konis attended the Dispatcher Awards Reception to honor the woman who saved her life. "She simply saved me because you don't know how scared you're going to be or how shaking you're going to be, and she just did everything perfect," said Konis.
Keyla's mother is now fine. The Potter Randall 9-1-1 District said this story proves how important it is to teach kids simple things like their address and phone number.
Ronna, whose last name is also withheld, of the Randall County Sheriff's Office was also awarded the 9-1-1 for Kids Commendation Dispatcher Award.
