A Virginia Girl Scout sprung into action and saved her dad's life using CPR - a technique she had learned just days earlier.
Vada Carawan, 11, had only performed CPR on a dummy during training sessions with her Virginia Beach Girl Scout troop 11 days before the terrifying incident. But any doubts she had about her abilities were put aside when her father, Clint, started having a heart attack on November 23.
'First, I was like "I don't know if I can do CPR," but apparently I can,' Vada told WAVY.
The brave daughter fought through her tears to help her dad. While calling 911, Vada started doing chest compressions on her father until paramedics arrived at their home. Vada and the paramedics' efforts revived her dad before he was taken to the hospital, where he is still recovering.
According to a GoFundMe made to support Vada's family and Clint's recovery, Vada noticed her dad was not feeling well all day, prompting her to stay by his side. Vada's mom, Amanda, wrote: 'He had been tired all day, and by late afternoon, he mentioned pain in his left arm.'
"Vada remembered him saying once that this could be a warning sign of a heart attack," Amanda added.
Clint was taking longer than usual in the bathroom, so Vada called out to make sure he was okay. But he left the bathroom shakily and grabbed onto his dresser before dropping to the ground. Even their dog Maggie was 'freaking out' when he collapsed.
Amanda said: 'Throughout all of this, Clint has one thing on his mind: his daughter. Every time someone mentions Vada, he lights up.'
Clint was first rushed to Virginia Beach General Hospital before being airlifted to Norfolk Heart Hospital.
"Vada is not just a little girl. She's a lifesaver," Amanda stated proudly.
Vada told WAVY she was the only Girl Scout in her troop to successfully 'save the dummy' during the CPR course. She said performing CPR on a real person - let alone her own father - was much different than what she practiced.
Vada expressed: 'It's kind of hard because it was so scary... It's not your dad.'
Amanda noted that Clint is Vada's hero every single day but acknowledged that "she got to be his hero" when she helped him survive his heart attack.