9-year-old girl with cerebral palsy is being called a hero after saving her baby brother from drowning in pool

Cindy Arboleda
Hero 9-year-old girl alerted her family about little brother falling in the pool. (Photo: CBS 6)
Hero 9-year-old girl alerted her family about little brother falling in the pool. (Photo: CBS 6)

Lexie Comeau-Drisdelle, 9, is being called a hero after saving her baby brother from drowning. Although doing so would be considered courageous for anyone in Lexie’s position, considering she can’t talk or walk, and uses a wheelchair because she has cerebral palsy, she’s getting extra credit.

According to CTV News, family and friends were gathered at the Comeau-Drisdelle home in Halifax, Nova Scotia, for Lexie’s birthday on May 5. Kelly Jackson, Lexie’s mother, stepped away momentarily and left 1-year-old Leeland with guests, family, and friends.

“I was upstairs changing for the party, her dad was picking up her older brother, and my mom was in the kitchen when suddenly I just heard Lexie screaming. I panicked and immediately thought, ‘Oh no, she must have fallen off her chair,’” the mother of three told CBS 6.

Lexie, who keeps a close eye on her baby brother, saw Leeland wandering toward the pool. Then when he fell in it, she began to scream as loudly as she could.

“When my mom told me what was going on, I quickly looked out the window and there, at the edge of the pool I saw his little head,” Jackson said. “I began to panic, and my mom quickly ran towards him and pulled him out.”

Leeland received medical attention and has made a full recovery.

Now Lexie is being honored for her act of bravery. She was recognized on Wednesday as a hero by the Halifax Regional Council for her response, and she was honored by the city’s police department.

“Heroes come in all sizes. It was a real pleasure to recognize young Lexie for alerting her mom when her toddler brother made a dash for the pool,” Halifax Mayor Mike Savage tweeted.

Lexie’s mom shared a similar message on CTV: “You don’t need to be able to walk and talk and have all your senses. You can still make yourself heard, and you can still help. And yes, she did save his life.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 4,000 people drown in the U.S. each year and drowning is the cause of death for more children in the 1- to 4-years-of-age range than anything else except birth defects. Additionally, children ages 1 to 4 are at the highest risk of drowning in swimming pools, hot tubs, and spas.

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