4-year-old saves diabetic mother's life

RECTORVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- A 4-year-old Mason County boy is being credited with saving the life of his mother.

Shannon Jones, 28, was cleaning her Rectorville home recently when she suffered a low blood sugar spell caused by Type 1 diabetes, a chronic disease in which there are high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood because of the body's inability to produce insulin.

Jones was diagnosed as a diabetic when she was only 4 years old and has to keep a close eye on her blood sugar levels.

"I was sweeping the floor," she said of the incident earlier this week. "I had a pile of dirt on it. That's the last thing I remember. I didn't even realize my sugar had dropped so low. The heat must have contributed to it."

Low blood sugar can develop quickly in people with diabetes who are taking insulin and, in severe cases, can cause seizures and unconsciousness.

Jones said while she was unconscious her son, Bradley, found her and tried to wake her.

"He said he couldn't wake me up," she said. "He tried to feed me candy, but said I wouldn't open my mouth. When he couldn't get me to eat the candy, he went to his great-grandmother's house, who lives next door, and then to his uncle's garage."

While Bradley does not yet know what numbers to dial on the phone, he does understand what happens when his mother's blood sugar levels bottom out, Jones said.

"He's seen it before," she said. "I've had close calls before, but this was the first time my son had to be in charge. We're still working on the phone, but we have taught him what needs to be done if it happens and we're alone."

Jones said Bradley brought the family members back to the house, where they called an ambulance to take her to the hospital.

"He was telling everyone -- the family, the paramedics, the nurses, anyone who would listen -- that I wouldn't wake up and what they needed to do to help me," she said.

When the ambulance arrived, Bradley even went to wake up his 18-month old sister, who was taking a nap, to make sure she wasn't left behind.

"He wanted to make sure she wasn't forgotten in all of the commotion," Bradley's grandmother, Mindy Evans said.

Bradley agreed with his grandmother, displaying a shy smile and saying, "I saved my mommy's life."

"We're really proud of him for it. He's a good boy and he loves his mother," Evans said.