When paper carrier Darcy Adams dropped his bag of newspapers to answer a cry for help, he was well prepared in character and training to provide the assistance so critically needed.
"Darcy is an exceptional young man who has continually exemplified his responsibilities as a deacon and teacher," said Tony Myers, the Young Men president of the Jefferson City Ward, Columbia Missouri Stake.His activity in the Church prepared him to save a life. Darcy had learned CPR by attending a Young Men activity where Dr. William Kimlinger, then the Jefferson City Ward Young Men president, taught the procedure.
Darcy was about to deliver his last paper and was just thinking of getting home that afternoon last February. But something was happening in a nearby home that would soon involve him.
Kathleen Hermann noticed almost immediately when her 19-month-old son Kyle started to choke on some peppermint candy. He was sitting right behind her in the kitchen of their home. She tried the Heimlich maneuver twice and also tried hitting the baby on the back, but couldn't dislodge the candy. She then ran outside with Kyle to get help from a neighbor.
Darcy, 14 years old at the time, heard Mrs. Hermann screaming, "My baby's choking." Without hesitation, he ran to the mother, grabbed Kyle from her, bent him over and administered the Heimlich maneuver. On the second attempt, the piece of candy popped out of Kyle's mouth and the baby started breathing normally again.
Darcy didn't know the Hermanns; they hadn't lived in the area long and didn't subscribe to the newspaper. But those things didn't matter to him.
As he calmly went through that critical event, he felt like he was just doing what was necessary. Later, he said, he had a strong feeling that he had been in that spot at that time for the purpose of helping Mrs. Hermann.
After saving Kyle's life, Darcy went on to deliver the final newspaper, not waiting for praise or reward. Mrs. Hermann had to call after him to get his name.
The Hermanns phoned the office of the newspaper, and the paper did a story on what happened. The local police and Veterans of Foreign Wars honored Darcy with a plaque and a medal, respectively. And the Hermanns delivered a personal thanks, accompanied by cookies and brownies, to Darcy in his home. They even started subscribing to the paper.
