Spencerport eighth-grader Kennedy Graves was among those recognized at the Do The Right Thing award ceremony in May. The program is sponsored by the Rochester Police Department and recognizes students who have gone above and beyond to do the right thing. These students have proven they are role models through their actions by demonstrating courage, leadership, selflessness, generosity, honesty, and maturity.
Zachary Callahan is a Mobile Stroke Unit Nurse at URMC, and nominated Kennedy for her extraordinary awareness, composure, and decisive action during a medical emergency.
Back in January, while spending time with her father, Kennedy noticed subtle but concerning changes in him that others might have overlooked. She recognized that his speech was not normal and observed changes in his facial appearance—classic warning signs of a possible stroke. Rather than dismissing what she saw or hesitating out of fear or uncertainty, Kennedy trusted her instincts and immediately called 911. This set into motion a rapid, coordinated response from both Penfield EMS and the County’s specialized stroke resource – the Mobile Stroke Unit (MSU). Through established prehospital collaboration, they worked together to expedite advanced stroke evaluation and treatment in the field—significantly reducing time to definitive care.
Because strokes are extremely time-sensitive events, early recognition and rapid action often make the difference between recovery and lifelong disability, or worse. Kennedy’s actions initiated a response that activated this integrated EMS system at the earliest possible moment, enabling her father to receive timely, advanced medical care and giving him the best possible chance of a positive outcome.
Mr. Callahan had direct contact with Kennedy at the incident and said that what made her actions especially noteworthy was the confidence, responsibility, and courage she displayed in a moment when many adults would have frozen. At thirteen, she demonstrated a level of situational awareness, maturity, and selflessness far beyond her years, and because of this, her father ultimately experienced a remarkable recovery.
For more information about the Do The Right Thing program, visit Cityofrochester.gov/DoTheRightThing.
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