Red Cross Awards Heartland Heroes
By: Andrew Barra WMBD/WYZZ-TV
Updated: April 29, 2012
They are ordinary people who found themselves in extraordinary situations.
But because of how they handled it., the Red Cross is naming them this year's heartland heroes.
Nathan Palkovic doesnt think he is a hero. But when a student at Von Steuben fell in to cardiac arrest, the teachers aide become one.
Nathan says, "Just showed up tow ork really early...1st or 2nd periiod...one of the teachers comes running down saying "Does anyone know CPR? Ivy Gerr is not breathing. Started performing CPR until paramedics showed up and took over."
And because of his actions, Palkovic was named a Red Cross Heartland Hero. He was one of eight people who recieved the award Saturday at a tribute dinner in East Peoria.
Erin Miller of the Red Cross says, "We have a group of amazing individuals. They are people who range from individuals that do a lifetime of service to people who find themselves in a situation and react in a way that we all hope that would."
Doctor Andy Morgan and his wife Kathy were also honored as heroes for creating the Penguin Project, a theater group for kids with disabilities.
They never thought they would receive an award like this and say this isn't why they started the group.
Doctor Andy says, "The heroes, really, are the parents and the mentors and the kids, because to seem them work together and create something that goes so far beyond the stage is jsut incredible."
So then who are the true heroes? Don't ask anyone in this room.
Palkovic says, "I dont feel like one. I got put in a situation and I did what I was supposed to do."
Dr. Andy adds, " We dont really think of ouselves as heroes. We think of ourselves as people who have been fortuante enough to have created a process."
But to those who are alive or have benefited from them... they are the heroes.
In all.. the Red Cross named eight heores in five categories.
But because of how they handled it., the Red Cross is naming them this year's heartland heroes.
Nathan Palkovic doesnt think he is a hero. But when a student at Von Steuben fell in to cardiac arrest, the teachers aide become one.
Nathan says, "Just showed up tow ork really early...1st or 2nd periiod...one of the teachers comes running down saying "Does anyone know CPR? Ivy Gerr is not breathing. Started performing CPR until paramedics showed up and took over."
And because of his actions, Palkovic was named a Red Cross Heartland Hero. He was one of eight people who recieved the award Saturday at a tribute dinner in East Peoria.
Erin Miller of the Red Cross says, "We have a group of amazing individuals. They are people who range from individuals that do a lifetime of service to people who find themselves in a situation and react in a way that we all hope that would."
Doctor Andy Morgan and his wife Kathy were also honored as heroes for creating the Penguin Project, a theater group for kids with disabilities.
They never thought they would receive an award like this and say this isn't why they started the group.
Doctor Andy says, "The heroes, really, are the parents and the mentors and the kids, because to seem them work together and create something that goes so far beyond the stage is jsut incredible."
So then who are the true heroes? Don't ask anyone in this room.
Palkovic says, "I dont feel like one. I got put in a situation and I did what I was supposed to do."
Dr. Andy adds, " We dont really think of ouselves as heroes. We think of ourselves as people who have been fortuante enough to have created a process."
But to those who are alive or have benefited from them... they are the heroes.
In all.. the Red Cross named eight heores in five categories.
