View Full Version : Toddler Walks Two Blocks To Get Help For Father


Family Ties Forever!
08-23-2010, 02:45 AM
link (http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/08/22/california.toddler.heroine/index.html?eref=ib_topstories)

Toddler Walks Two Blocks To Reach Medical Help For Her Father
By the CNN Wire Staff
August 22, 2010 7:05 p.m. EDT

Story Highlights
3-year-old walks to a fire station after her father collapses
Her family had been teaching her about safe places in their community
Doctors say the father would have died without prompt care

(CNN) -- Alesaundra Tafoya's parents have been teaching their daughter about safety in their Northern California community, pointing out such safe havens as fire stations if she ever finds herself in trouble. They weren't, however, expecting 3-year-old Alesaundra to call upon those lessons when one of them needed help -- but that's exactly what she did Friday when her father collapsed in their Manteca, California, home. Frank Tafoya told CNN affiliate KOVR that he "took a mixture of medication I wasn't supposed to at the time -- a bed-time dose -- and I guess I collapsed."

Alesaundra did exactly what she was taught -- walking two blocks to reach Fire Station 243, a firehouse the family passes daily. Once there, she told firefighters that her dad was "frozen" and wouldn't wake up, according to KOVR. "I've been here over 20 years," Capt. Robert Villalovoz said. "It's the first time I've had a 3-year-old walk up to the fire station." Alesaundra then escorted rescuers back to her house, where her father was "sitting in the living room, needing medical care," Villalovoz said.

Doctors told KOVR that without the prompt medical attention, Frank Tafoya would have died. "She's been listening," her mother said Saturday. "What we've been teaching her she's been listening and that's good."

Lee
08-23-2010, 03:04 AM
Good little girl! She is a hero

catlover79
08-23-2010, 10:47 AM
Awwww...how sweet is that?

Retro4Life
08-23-2010, 06:46 PM
What a neat story. :)

Janice
08-23-2010, 07:38 PM
It is a nice story, but it could have ended in tragedy, had a nut taken the todder or if she got hit by a car. I wonder what mixture of "medicine" her father took, that wiped him completely out?

catlover79
08-23-2010, 08:09 PM
It is a nice story, but it could have ended in tragedy, had a nut taken the todder or if she got hit by a car. I wonder what mixture of "medicine" her father took, that wiped him completely out?
True...thank God everything turned out OK.

Janice
08-23-2010, 09:28 PM
Janice, are you implying that the father intentionally took that medicine
in an attempt to get high and willfully neglected his daughter? I think it
is just as that story said-that it was an accidental overdose and that he
passed out through no fault of his own. I do not think he is an unfit father.
Lee, you're at it again, putting words in someone's mouth. I'm curious what knocked the father out. It had to be mighty potent combination. That's all I'm saying. Don't tell me I called him unfit, a druggie or any such thing.

OH Nuts!
08-23-2010, 09:48 PM
What a smart little girl she was. Thank God everything turned out well.

cyberalias81
08-23-2010, 10:44 PM
It's a bit early to speculate whether it was medicine or "medicine" I would hope the police would take an interest for the latter.

Janice
08-23-2010, 11:08 PM
It's a bit early to speculate whether it was medicine or "medicine" I would hope the police would take an interest for the latter.
I'm not speculating. The father says that "he took a mixture of medication I wasn't supposed to at the time -- a bed-time dose -- and I guess I collapsed." What is it with you people? I'm discussing what's written in the article, and I've got people trying to put me on the hot seat. This is bs.

Family Ties Forever!
08-24-2010, 05:04 PM
Janice, are you implying that the father intentionally took that medicine
in an attempt to get high and willfully neglected his daughter? I think it
is just as that story said-that it was an accidental overdose and that he
passed out through no fault of his own. I do not think he is an unfit father.

Back off. You gave yoru opinion. Isn't that enough? Do you have to go after Janice all the time? She simply gave her opinion from what the father said in the article.

You don't have to jump to conclusions and assume people said something they didn't.

It's a bit early to speculate whether it was medicine or "medicine" I would hope the police would take an interest for the latter.

There's no 'speculation' it's stated right there in the article.

coffield3
08-24-2010, 06:14 PM
Poor girl, having to do all that, anything could of happened to her. Glad things turned out ok.

Janice
08-24-2010, 06:34 PM
Back off. You gave yoru opinion. Isn't that enough? Do you have to go after Janice all the time? She simply gave her opinion from what the father said in the article.

You don't have to jump to conclusions and assume people said something they didn't.



There's no 'speculation' it's stated right there in the article.
Thanks Jenny. :) Twice in a row, I found myself defending why I posted what I did. I saw this story somewhere else, and it was prescription drugs that he mixed. So yes Lee, I am suspicious why an adult would pass out in mid-afternoon. I'm entitled to my opinion.

OH Nuts!
08-24-2010, 06:51 PM
Thanks Jenny. :) Twice in a row, I found myself defending why I posted what I did. I saw this story somewhere else, and it was prescription drugs that he mixed. So yes Lee, I am suspicious why an adult would pass out in mid-afternoon. I'm entitled to my opinion.

And its uncanny how often you're right on the $. Often when I see someone asking for advice on the bds. I always hope you'll ring in - as I know you're likely to have sensible solid advice that will help.

-STEFFY-
08-24-2010, 06:52 PM
Janice, are you implying that the father intentionally took that medicine
in an attempt to get high and willfully neglected his daughter? I think it
is just as that story said-that it was an accidental overdose and that he
passed out through no fault of his own. I do not think he is an unfit father.
Lee, You are a trouble-maker. Janice was just being curious. You have to start trouble where there is none.

Janice
08-25-2010, 04:48 PM
Lee, You are a trouble-maker. Janice was just being curious. You have to start trouble where there is none.
Thanks STEFFY. It's true, I was just being curious. I still am. Had something terrible happened to this sweet little girl, I think many people, Lee included, just may have a different take on the story. The police would be investigating, as they should be anyway. Here's the other article I saw that stated the father mixed prescription drugs.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.aolnews.com/nation/article/3-year-old-alesaundra-tafoya-saves-dad-frank-tafoya-by-walking-to-fire-station-for-help/19604207?ncid=webmail

3-Year-Old Saves Dad by Walking to Fire Station for Help

(Aug. 23) -- When her father collapsed in their living room, 3-year-old Alesaundra Tafoya knew what to do.

The Manteca, Calif., toddler walked two blocks to the fire station, where she told firefighters her father was "frozen" and needed help.

"I've been here over 20 years, it's the first time I've had a 3-year-old walk up to the fire station," Manteca Fire Department Capt. Robert Villalovoz told CBS 13. "She walked us down to her house and there her dad was, sitting in the living room, needing medical care."

According to the Manteca Bulletin (http://www.mantecabulletin.com/news/article/16572/), Alesaundra made it as far as the parking lot behind the fire department when members of an Alcoholics Anonymous support group meeting next door noticed that the toddler looked confused and helped her make it the rest of the way into the fire station.

http://o.aolcdn.com/photo-hub/news_gallery/6/8/682202/1282580017817.JPEG (http://cbs13.com/video/?id=76807@kovr.dayport.com)
Alesaundra Tafoya, 3, visits the fire station where she went to get help for her father.

Alesaundra may have saved her dad's life. Her father, Frank Tafoya, says he accidentally overdosed on prescription medication. "Took a mixture of medication I wasn't supposed to at the time, a bedtime dose, and I guess I collapsed," he said.

Her parents said they'd been pointing out the fire station as a place to go to get help in case of an emergency.

Janice
08-25-2010, 04:55 PM
And its uncanny how often you're right on the $. Often when I see someone asking for advice on the bds. I always hope you'll ring in - as I know you're likely to have sensible solid advice that will help.
Thank you for your kind words, Rich. I do my best. :)

Family Ties Forever!
08-25-2010, 10:34 PM
Aww. The picture of the little girl is sweet.