Anamosa Police Officer Awarded for Saving 8-Day-Old's Life

By Justin Foss, Reporter

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By Justin Foss

Story Created: Oct 22, 2009 at 6:39 PM CST

Story Updated: Oct 23, 2009 at 10:50 AM CST

ANAMOSA - If you ever have to call 911, you hope help arrives right away.

First responders were put to the test on February 14, 2009, and on Thursday, an Anamosa Police Officer got a special award, for saving a life.

At eight months old, Kayden Covington is an active and busy little boy.

"Its amazing how positive he is and how much he can laugh and have fun," said Kayden's mother Crystal.

At birth, Kayden was diagnosed with underdeveloped lungs and spent his first few days of life in the NICU. At 8 days old, he was sent home.

It was Valentines Day, and Crystal said she'll never for get it. Just hours after getting home and ordering pizza, Kayden stopped breathing.

Crystal called 911, first on the scene was officer Amy Ford.

"I took him in my arms and he fit right between my wrist and my elbow and there was no movement out of him, I tried to remain calm, but inside, also being a new mother, I was just frightened," said Ford.

At the time, Ford had a 6-month-old at home, she said the fright really touched her.

That night, Ford was alone, went just two blocks from the police station to the Covington's home, which happens to be on Ford Street.

When the officer arrived, she immediately used her training and gave the listless child rescue breaths.

Anamosa's ambulance was on a run out of town, and didn't make it back for 19 minutes. (That's a correction from the original version which said Monticello Ambulance responded to help out, according to the Anamosa Police Department.)

"She played a huge role, I believe that if she would have been on the same street, he probably wouldn't have made it," said Crystal.

Thursday, the city's police chief gave Ford a life-saving award. It's the first such award he's given in his six years as chief.

"Never would I have thought just doing my job would bring out a recognition like this," said Ford.

But, Ford said the real reward is seeing Kayden alive, and healthy.

They get to do that often now. Before February 14, Ford and the Covington's didn't know each other. Now, they talk every week.

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