UT Health East Texas EMS recognized 3-year-old Noemi “Emi” Vatavuk on September 8, 2026, in Tyler, for her critical actions that helped her mother, Aiden Wilkie, receive lifesaving care during a medical emergency. Noemi was presented with a certificate of bravery and an EMS challenge coin by UT Health East Texas EMS CEO John Smith and Medical Director Yagnesh Desai, MD. Paramedic Caleb Ridgeway and EMT Tim Spurgeon, members of the ambulance crew that responded to the call, also presented Noemi with a Build-A-Bear emotional support teddy bear.
The emergency occurred earlier this year when Noemi and her mother were at their apartment in Rusk. Aiden Wilkie suffered a seizure, rendering her unable to move or speak. Despite her young age, Noemi remained calm and called her grandparents, who reside near Atlanta, Georgia. Aiden Wilkie credits her daughter with helping ensure she received the care she needed during the incident.
Noemi's grandparents then contacted emergency dispatchers. With Noemi's help, they guided UT Health East Texas EMS crews to the family’s apartment. Aiden Wilkie stated that from her mother's account, Noemi rolled her onto her side, rubbed her hair, and spoke with her grandmother on the phone. Ryan McCleod, Aiden’s mother, stayed connected with Noemi via FaceTime throughout the emergency, while Aiden’s father relayed information Noemi shared to dispatchers.
The situation presented additional challenges as the apartment door was locked, and responders initially struggled to identify the correct unit. Following instructions from the dispatcher and her grandparents, Noemi demonstrated remarkable resourcefulness. Ryan McCleod recounted telling Noemi that they needed to get a chair so she could unlock the door. Noemi subsequently dragged a chair from the dining room to the front door, climbed it, and successfully unlocked the door. McCleod added that when dispatch had difficulty finding the apartment, Noemi was instructed to yell, which she did. Once the door was unlocked, Noemi went outside with her cat, Nemo, and waited for first responders to arrive. McCleod described Noemi's resilience, stating there were “no words” for her pride.
Lisa Wingfield, the EMS system status controller who dispatched the call, highlighted the unusual circumstances that demanded clear communication and composure. The information relay was complicated by having to pass through Noemi’s grandparents, who were hundreds of miles away. Wingfield drew upon skills from her prior career as a music teacher to maintain a calm demeanor, stating, “The calmer I am, the calmer everybody else is going to be.” She emphasized the importance of her voice sounding calm, even amidst the urgency. Wingfield reported needing a break after the call, explaining she “went and cried because I was so happy they got help.”
Aiden Wilkie, who was diagnosed with epilepsy as an infant, expressed her gratitude for the collective effort that day, acknowledging the teamwork among her daughter, her parents, dispatchers, and the EMS crews. She declared Noemi “definitely my hero.”
