Tuesday Topic: Mason, A 6-Year Old Hero with Down Syndrome

Mason Hedges at School

This is a short but awesome addition to your Tuesday: “Boy With Down Syndrome Saves Student” reads the headline. This is a short article about Mason, a little First Grader in Indiana.

WE know our kids are special and have an extraordinary awareness that impacts our lives in ways we find it hard to describe; but in this case, Mason’s awareness saved his choking classmate at lunch. This is a very special little link.

About That Custodian…

It would have been wonderful to know the name of the custodian on duty who presumably performed the Heimlich maneuver on the choking child. When my son Jonathan (DS, 28) was in high school, the school custodian was his biggest buddy.

Mr. Gilkey and Jonathan loved to joke around and made up the most ridiculous nicknames for each other, which they thought was hysterically funny. When Jonathan graduated, we invited Mr. Gilkey to our very small graduation party. He showed up wearing a bright Hawaiian shirt (not his customary school attire) and he and Jonathan played basketball while we cooked burgers on the grill.

I think sometimes school custodians are the unsung heroes who have their finger on the pulse of the students; they wouldn’t have the job they do if they didn’t enjoy relating to the kids. So, here’s a “Bravo!” to the custodian who helped Mason and his friend!

Have a beautiful day-