Janitor helps save boy's
life

- A Stamford boy went into cardiac arrest at school and his mother credits the school janitor and nurse with saving her son's life.

The incident happened Monday at Heart Magnet School in Stamford. Ten-year-old Isiah Butler collided with another child while playing in the school yard and went into cardiac arrest.

Gerard Sangerman, who was trained as a firefighter, immediately went to work on the boy. At the same time, the school nurse, Thomasena Smikle, grabbed the defibrillator and together the pair resuscitated Isiah.

Isaiah was taken to Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital where he remains in the pediatric intensive care unit.

"The janitor of God. I have no idea how to describe this man at this point in time," said Isiah's mother, Doris. "My savior, found my son, gave him CPR! Nurse came and helped, got him to the hospital and if it wasn't for that janitor, he would not be here right now."

Gerard and Thomasena both downplay their actions, saying they were just doing their job.

Isiah has a pre-existing heart condition known as hypo-trophic-cardio-myothopy. He's expected to recover and be out of the hospital by the end of the week. The miracle of life is gift enough to his parents this Christmas. As for Isaiah, "Get whatever he wants," his mother said. "If he can say it, he can get it. My baby deserves everything. He's a great kid."