Tyler, Texas — UT Health East Texas EMS publicly recognized three-year-old Noemi “Emi” Vatavuk on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, for her remarkable actions that helped ensure her mother received life-saving care. 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 who responded to the call, also presented Noemi with a Build-A-Bear emotional support teddy bear.
The recognition in Tyler stemmed from an incident earlier this year when Noemi was at home in Rusk with her mother, Aiden Wilkie, who suffered a seizure. Aiden, who was diagnosed with epilepsy as an infant, reported she was unable to move or speak during the medical emergency. Despite her young age, Noemi remained calm and took immediate action, calling her grandparents, who reside near Atlanta, Georgia.
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 recounted that Noemi rolled her onto her side, rubbed her hair, and spoke with her grandmother, Ryan McCleod, via FaceTime, relaying critical information. Noemi’s grandfather communicated directly with dispatchers, passing along the details Noemi provided.
Lisa Wingfield, the EMS system status controller who dispatched the call, described the unusual circumstances, noting the necessity for clear communication and calm under pressure. Given that information had to be relayed through Noemi’s grandparents hundreds of miles away, Wingfield relied on her past experience as a music teacher to maintain a reassuring tone. She stated, “The calmer I am, the calmer everybody else is going to be.”
The situation was further complicated because the apartment door was locked, and responders initially struggled to identify the correct unit in Rusk. Following instructions from both the dispatcher and her grandparents, Noemi dragged a chair from the dining room to the front door, climbed up, and successfully unlocked it. Ryan McCleod, Noemi’s grandmother, confirmed the effort, stating, “This kid is resilient beyond anything I ever expected.” Noemi then helped responders locate her apartment by yelling, and afterward, she waited outside with her cat, Nemo, for the first responders to arrive.
Aiden Wilkie expressed profound gratitude for the collective effort. She credited her daughter’s actions, alongside the teamwork of her parents, the dispatchers, and the EMS crews, for ensuring she received the care she needed. Aiden affirmed, “She is definitely my hero.”
