LONE TREE, Colo. — A 16-year-old was only on her second shift in a high school program at a local hospital when she saved a life.
Kyla Colomina is one of the 100 students enrolled in Skyridge Medical Center’s High School Student Program, doing everything from answering phones to admitting patients and helping them navigate the facility. John Penn, Skyridge Medical Center’s director of volunteer and family services, said this program gives the students real world experience working in a hospitals.
That experience proved to be lifesaving — on Colomina's second shift, a man showed up to the hospital, distressed and speaking mainly in Spanish.
“His speech seemed very slow and he just seemed kind of out of it too,” she said.
She recognized he was having a stroke, called the STAT team and translated for them all the way to the ER.
“In a scenario like that, every second is really critical, so rather than waiting for an interpreter service, for her to respond immediately and get the response team within a minute or two is really critical,” Penn said.
It was a split-second decision that ended up saving the man’s life.
“I was just doing what I had to," Colomina said. "I’m glad I could help for sure."
Penn said he thinks her actions bode well for her being a future healthcare professional.
Molly Hendrickson anchors Denver7 in the mornings from 4:30-7 a.m. She also features a different 7Everyday Hero each week on Denver7. Follow Molly on Facebook here and Twitter here. To nominate a hero in your life, click here.
