Pennsylvania 8-year-old honored by EMTs after saving mother's life

Jayla Martin, 8, is credited with saving her mother's life. (Fox 29.)

An 8-year-old Pennsylvania girl was recognized last week for her quick-thinking actions that saved her mother’s life. Cheltenham EMS honored Jayla Martin with an assembly and surprise plaque at her school, hailing her “grown-up” actions, Fox 29 reported.

Jayla was at home with her mother, Latoya Martin, and 2-year-old sister Ava when Latoya began experiencing severe stomach pains. Jayla quickly dialed 9-1-1 and spoke to an operator who helped prepared for what would come next, Fox 29 reported.

“When I called she just asked me some questions and then she hung up and the police came here,” Jayla told the news station. While waiting for the police, Jayla gathered her mother’s belongings and readied her sister’s car seat so they could ride in the ambulance with Latoya, who would find out she was suffering from internal bleeding.

“She was super composed and actually managed to control the situation and herself better than a lot of adults that we come in contact with in emergency situations,” Lieutenant Jessica Barto, one of the paramedics who responded to the call, told Fox 29.

Latoya has since made a full recovery and returned home to her children.

“I’m still trying to get over the fact that I almost died,” Latoya told Fox 29. “So that’s the biggest struggle first and then it’s like: I created her so how can something I created end up being my biggest blessing?”