When Natalie Bostic’s neighbor said he needed to “catch his breath” while doing yardwork, she didn’t give it much thought. But when she noticed that he was unresponsive and lying in the grass, she immediately jumped into action and gave him lifesaving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

              For her quick and decisive action last March, Bostic has been awarded the American Red Cross Certificate of Merit. It is one of the Red Cross’s highest honors, presented to those who use their lifesaving skills in an emergency situation. Red Cross Texas Gulf Coast Region CEO Shawn Schulze present Bostic with the framed certificate, signed by President Joe Biden, along with a medal and a pin. Bostic, a resident of Missouri City, Texas, is a nurse at Fort Bend ISD’s James Reese Career & Technical Center. Lionel Perro, Bostic’s longtime neighbor and friend who suffered a heart attack, has made a full recovery.

              “When we have our annual training with school staff, I always tell them that CPR is a lifesaving skill that you never known when you may be called upon to use it,” Bostic said. “You never know when it may be someone in your household, a neighbor, a friend, or someone you don’t know.”

              Bostic said she learned CPR while a student at Prairie View A&M’s College of Nursing. Additionally, she has provided training to other nurse colleagues, coaches and paraprofessional school staff (Hands Only CPR). The incident that occurred in her neighbor’s backyard last spring wasn’t the first time she had been called upon to use her CPR skills. But this time, it was much more personal.

              “I told him that I had known him for many years and that my kids had known him their entire lives,” she said. “I just don’t know how I would grapple with the idea if we didn’t have the outcome that I was anticipating and expecting.”

              Bostic said she was surprised to receive the recognition from the Red Cross. She also has been quoted as saying that she isn’t a hero but “just as person in the right place, at the right time, with the right skills.”

              “Natalie is definitely a hero,” Red Cross Regional CEO Schulze said. “Someone is still walking the earth because of the work of her hands.”

              If you know of someone who has used lifesaving skills in an emergency situation, you can nominate them for one of three national Red Cross lifesaving awards by going online to: https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/lifesaving or call 1-800-RED CROSS.

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information about volunteering or contributing to the Red Cross’s mission, please call 1-800-RED-CROSS, visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @RedCross.

Story By: David Guth