Hancock Student Saves Grandmom With 911 Call

By Lisa E. Crowley
BrocktonPost
BROCKTON—Eight-year-old Hancock Elementary School student Nolan Wood didn’t stop to think when his grandmother suddenly collapsed at her kitchen table while painting a picture for him March 22.
Wood immediately recognized his grandmother Patricia Cerone was having a serious medical problem and ran straight for the phone and dialed 911—steps he had learned to take from programs at school and from his mother Michelle Wood.
Wood was able to tell firefighters the address of his grandmother’s house where he was staying for the day because he stayed home from school with a cold.
He described his “Gamma’s” symptoms clearly and with enough detail for emergency responders to realize Cerone was unconscious and needed immediate help.
Firefighters said Nolan never panicked and did all the right things.
“He saved her life,” said Michelle Wood, Nolan’s mother who still thanks her deceased father for sending signals to her to let Nolan stay home from school that day. Otherwise Patricia Cerone would have collapsed at the table with no one around to help her.
Cerone, 64, had not been ill and the collapse identified a life-threatening condition for which she is currently undergoing treatments at Tufts Medical Center. (Cerone pictured at right with Nolan and brother Gavin)
“I’m not a religious person, but my father was there that day,” Michelle Wood said thanking the heavens above for the decision to let Nolan stay home from school March 22.
Yesterday afternoon in Fire Chief Richard Francis’ office, Nolan Wood was presented with a citation of appreciation from Francis and another from Mayor Linda Balzotti who said his “quick thinking” and “quick acting” saved his grandmother’s life. (Pictured below)
After the citations were presented, Nolan, his 7-year-old brother Gavin and 2-year-old sister Avery were given bright red firefighter helmets and Nolan and Gavin were thrilled to climb in and out of Engine 5 checking out the hundreds of buttons and laughing when the loud horn echoed through the garage.
Nolan simply said he called 911, but his father Dicky Wood said Nolan is a smart kid who seems to have a spotlight around him because the 8-year-old has already won the family a free trip for a coloring contest and was recognized in the local newspaper for other endeavors.
“We’re really proud of him,” Dicky Wood said.