It was the middle of the night. His mother cried for help. His brother fumbled with shock. His father remained unresponsive. He reacted.

On March 19 of last year, junior Ramiro Toledo saved his father’s life with CPR. This year on March 20, Toledo was honored with the Life Saving Hero-Youth award at the Hometown Heroes Celebration put on by the American Red Cross Apple Valley Chapter.

Remembering CPR from eighth-grade health class at Orchard Middle School, Toledo was the first to react when his father suffered a heart attack at home after midnight.

“My mom was just in shock, she was just crying, and my brother, I’m pretty sure he knows CPR, he just didn’t react,” Toledo said. “I think my mind took over… my mind instantly told me I had to do something about this.”

Because of his successful administration of CPR up to the arrival of medical help, hospital personnel attribute Toledo to his father’s recovery. Though this recovery involved several days in serious condition, his father is “healthy and happy now.”

“[My dad] says ‘I wouldn’t probably be here without my son. If I was here, I probably would have some problems’ because of oxygen, blood circulating to his brain,” Toledo said. “I’m not giving all the credit to myself, I’m giving it to everyone.”

Yet along with 14 other honored community members, two of which still are in elementary school, Toledo received much recognition at the Hometown Hero Celebration held in the Wenatchee Convention Center. Nurse and family friend Brigid Chvilicek nominated him for this award after being told what happened from her son and Toledo’s good friend, Adam Chvilicek.

“I was impressed by two things. First, he was able to remember information he got from an eighth-grade health class,” Brigid said. “But mostly I’m impressed how he was able to use that information in that moment of pressure. Anybody who can rise to a challenge like that is a hero in my book.”

At the awards, Toledo was reunited with his eighth-grade health teacher, Pam DePersio, as she presented him the award.

“As a teacher I was very, very proud,” DePersio said. “It was a joy to learn that he learned a skill, and he knew how to use it.”

The purpose of the awards is to honor people and organizations who have done something for the community, according to Disaster Program Manager Amanda Appel. With March being Red Cross month, she said many chapters hold similar “heroes” celebrations at this time, and this was the fifth year for this chapter.

However, the awards almost wouldn’t have happened had it not been for Celebration Chair Naila Duffy stepping up to organize them after the departure of the former Executive Director.

“It’s important. This event shows so much about the character of our community, that it just needed to happen,” Duffy said. “I think especially in Wenatchee, we have youth with character beyond their years, and I have hope for the future. It’s like gosh, if I drop dead on the sidewalk there is going to be someone to help me.”

According to Toledo, he had already received his award prior to the event. “I don’t think any award should be an award besides having my dad,” he said. “I think that’s my award.”