Earlier this month, I heard a great story from Polina Kravets of a group called “Go Au Pair.”
It was about “truly heroic” actions on May 13 at 45th Street and Springfield Avenue in Southwest Philly.
Kravets noted that “Sharon Lizcano Tellez (on left in picture), an Au Pair from Colombia, saved the life of an 8-month-old she has been caring for, from a distracted truck driver, while crossing a street at a crosswalk. Realizing that the accident was unavoidable, Sharon protected the baby by shifting her body and absorbing the impact of the crash to her left side, away from the child.”
Bad-ass.
Here’s more:
Sharon, who has been caring for the twins for the past five months, was crossing a street at a crosswalk with a fellow Au Pair when she realized the van would not stop in time.
Reacting quickly, she protected one of the babies by shifting her body and absorbing the brunt of the impact on her left side, away from the baby. Luckily the second baby was not hit.
Sharon was sent to the nearby CVS minute clinic and later to the ER for scans and x-rays and is now doing better; fortunately, aside from some cuts and bruises, no one else was injured.
The heroism displayed by Sharon is extraordinary, but those who know Sharon were not surprised.
“Sharon is a very loving and caring Au Pair with a lot of experience. I am not surprised that she saved my child’s life because [that’s] the type of the person Sharon is. We are extremely lucky to have her as a nanny for our kids and as a family member as well,” shared Sharon’s host mom, Mrs. Walker.
The family is very thankful and said Sharon deserved to be honored and rewarded. They are looking forward to spending both years of Sharon’s J-1 Au Pair visa with her.
In her short time as an Au Pair for the Walker Family, Sharon has developed a special connection with her family and the children she cares for. She says that the babies were so little and vulnerable that she didn’t hesitate to offer herself as a shield:
“A protective feeling grew inside me. In the time I’ve spent with these babies I have learned to understand them and love them as my own. They arouse, in my heart, this special motherly feeling [and all I want is to] take care of them as my own sons. I feel like I am part of the family, they are concerned about my feelings. I am very happy with my decision and thank God that [He] has guided me through my steps.”
That’s the good part. The bad: Sharon’s still feeling residual pain from the collision, but is getting physical therapy for it.