Pocono News Section

7-Year-Old Hailed as Hero

7-Year-Old Hailed as Hero - Tuesday, April 15, 2008 at 6:16PM EST

Reported by: Eric Deabill
Tuesday, Apr 15, 2008 @ 06:16pm EST

JESSUP, LACKAWANNA COUNTY - A 7-year-old boy from Lackawanna County is being hailed as a hero for saving his mother's life two weeks ago. Benjamin Mushak was honored Tuesday with a special proclamation by the county commissioners.

Mushak, 7, gathered with his twin brother Jacob and sister Samantha as his 911 call from March 26th was played. The three young kids worked together after their mother, Dana, collapsed at home.

"I called 911. Sam held mommy's hand. Jacob put the dogs in the kennel," Benjamin Mushak said.

Ben and his siblings got a tour of the 911 center in Jessup where their call was taken. They were also honored with a special certificate of recognition. Mushak says he learned to call 911 from school and stayed calm the entire time.

Dana Mushak, Ben's mother, only had a minor medical situation but now calls her children heroes, saying they were amazing because most days they can't even find their shoes in the morning.

"I'm amazed. Absolutely amazed. I don't know what else to say. I never expected them to work together like that," Dana Mushak said.

"I'm amazed at how cohesive everything came together and how well they interacted together," Gene Mushak, Ben's father, said.

Besides the Mushak kids, Tom McLaine, the dispatcher who took the call was also honored as part of National Telecommunicators Week.

"Myself and my co-workers do this everyday. It was really wonderful to be recognized," McLaine said.

The Lackawanna County communications center answers more than 500,000 calls a year. They have 50 full and part-time employees.