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Phoenix girl saves dad's life during diabetic shock

Posted at 10:53 PM, Apr 06, 2018
and last updated 2018-04-07 18:13:14-04

A Phoenix dad went into diabetic shock, but his nine-year-old daughter jumped in to give him a lifesaving shot and waited until paramedics arrived.

The family hopes their story will inspire other families to create a plan just in case of an emergency. 

Gracie Chambers says she knew she had to do something to save her dad when he started having a medical episode. 

"I didn't really care about how I felt," said Gracie. "I just cared about waking him up."

Gracie went running to her dad's side, as he went into diabetic shock. 

"I started calling for Gracie because I started feeling like I was going to pass out," said Greg Chambers. "Which I did."

Gracie used her dad's phone to call her mom, who's a physician at Phoenix Children's Hospital. 

"She told me his tummy was moving up and down, but he wouldn't wake up," said Melissa Chambers. 

For two years, the family members have been training for this situation.

"I reminded Gracie, I need you to get that red, Glucagon kit," said Melissa. "And she went and she got it."

Step by step, Gracie was guided how to give the shot.

"I just said, 'I really hoped this worked," said Gracie. 

Gracie's sister, Emmie, ran to get juice for dad, as he started to regain consciousness. 

"When I came to, and I saw the needle there, and I saw that she had done that, I was like, wow," said Greg Chambers. 

The family hopes other families will learn from this and make similar emergency plans.

"Kids are smart and you have to prepare them," said Melissa. "She was calmer because we had talked through it before."
 
And after saving a life, Gracie is inspired to help others, saying she might want to be a nurse when she grows up. 

The situation also gave the family a chance to discuss what they would have done if mom didn't answer the phone and what neighbors could be helpful in an emergency.