When his mom’s fiancé had a heart attack, Sequoia knew just what to do to save his life!

Fourteen-year-old Sequoia Simonds was helping his mom’s fiancé on the computer when suddenly, Jimmy collapsed. His heart had stopped! Luckily, Sequoia knew what to do. . .

My e-mail’s taking forever,” Jimmy Clark groaned as the Internet in his Lyndonville, Vermont, home slowed to a crawl.

“It could be a virus,” 14-yearold Sequoia Simonds told his soon-to-be stepfather, suggesting a fix.

Jimmy began typing— and then suddenly his body began to twitch and his head dropped to the desk.

“Very funny,” Sequoia chuckled. Ever since he’d known Jimmy, his mom’s fiancé, he’d been a practical joker. In fact, just a few days earlier, he’d clutched his throat at dinner, winking, “Your mom poisoned me!”

So now, “Quit pulling my leg,” Sequoia said—but Jimmy didn’t move.

Realizing Jimmy wasn’t joking, the teen grabbed the phone and dialed 911. “We need an ambulance! My mom’s fiancé—something’s wrong! Hurry!”

“Paramedics are on their way. But do you know CPR?” the dispatcher asked.

“We learned in health class last semester! But I’ve never actually done it before!” Sequoia admitted.

Just then, Sequoia’s mom, Brooke Sitzer, arrived home.

“What happened?” she gasped when she spotted Jimmy slumped over the computer table. Dashing over, she started shaking him.

“Mom, you have to get out of the way!” Sequoia exclaimed, easing Jimmy to the floor and stretching him on his back, just like he’d been taught.

Checking for Jimmy’s pulse, he found none. What’s next?” he fretted, and then . . . it all came rushing back.

Sequoia checked Jimmy’s mouth and throat for obstructions. Finding nothing, he started CPR.

Sequoia used both hands to push down hard on Jimmy’s breastbone.

“You can do this,” the dispatcher called over the speaker phone.

Sequoia pressed a second time, a third. Staying alive . . . staying alive! he sang in his head, working to the beat of the old Bee Gees’ song like he’d been taught. But Jimmy still wasn’t breathing—his skin was turning blue!

Please, don’t die! Sequoia begged, and kept pressing, again and again.

With his mom still sobbing and now their black Lab, Dozer, barking, Sequoia struggled to focus on his compressions, his arms aching.

“It’s not working! I must not be doing it right!” Sequoia worried.

“You’re doing fine. Even if his heart isn’t beating, you’re pushing critical oxygen-rich blood into his brain,” the dispatcher assured Sequoia.

In the next few moments, their neighbor Bob—who’d heard on his police scanner that an ambulance was being dispatched to Brooke and Jimmy’s—ran in and took over for an exhausted Sequoia.

Soon EMTS arrived. They had to use a portable defibrillator three times before they were able to restart Jimmy’s heart.

“See you soon,” Sequoia whispered, crossing his fingers as they loaded Jimmy into the ambulance. Then he turned to his mom. “He’s made it this far. That has to be a good sign . . . ”

At the hospital, doctors confirmed Jimmy had suffered a major cardiac arrest and implanted a permanent defibrillator in his chest. Two weeks later, he was home— and he owes it all to Sequoia.

“He’s a great kid. He used his kindness and skills to save my life!” Jimmy marvels. Brooke is also grateful. “Words cannot express how proud I am of Sequoia,” she beams. And when his dad, Joshua, heard, he got on Facebook. There are proud dad moments, and then there are moments when you realize your kid is a hero!

Sequoia appreciates all the praise, but remains humble.

“I don’t need recognition. I was just doing what they taught me in school and praying things would work out, because family is family and I’m glad Jimmy’s still here!”

— Bill Holton

“It is not flesh and blood, but heart which makes us fathers and sons.” Friedrich von Schiller My mom’s fiancé— something’s wrong!