EMSA presents award to 5-year-old girl for saving her grandmother’s life

TULSA, Okla. — EMSA presented their Everyday Hero Award to five-year-old Parker Ashford for saving her grandmother’s life.

Parker’s proud parents watched as paramedic Rusty Friske gave parker her a medal for helping to save her grandmother’s life.

The celebration took place at the Gathering Place’s Boathouse not far from where parker came to the rescue.    

“I also gave her my original challenge coin when i first started at EMSA,” Friske told FOX23.

 On December 12, 2021, Pamela Ashford suffered a traumatic event in the playground area of the Gathering Place and soon after her granddaughter, Parker, jumped into action.  

”[I] couldn’t walk, couldn’t speak and couldn’t understand people who spoke to me,” Pamela Ashford recalled. “My family has been wonderful, and everyone I’ve come into contact with doctors, nurses, therapists have all done a great job with me.”

 When her grandmother got sick, Parker alerted a nearby adult who called 911.

“I thought if my teacher taught me then I could help to save people,” Parker told FOX23.

“Once I got there I realized that Pamela had a head injury,” Friske said. “From there, [EMSA} and TFD picked her up and got her on the stretcher and took her to St. John.”

Parker’s parents told FOX23 they were filled with pride when she received the award.

“We are so incredibly proud of her. She was brave, braver than most adults, to be in that situation,” Connie Ashford, Parker’s mother, said. 

Pamela Ashford is thankful to be alright after the ordeal. 

“Thank goodness I was here. Tulsa really stepped up and took care of me,” she said. 

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