FAYETTEVILLE — In Cumberland County and most other school districts in the state, nurses travel from school to school. A special needs nurse arrived at Pauline Jones Elementary just in time to save a student's life.
Martinez Munn, 10, who has cerebral palsy, choked while in class Monday.
Special needs nurse Sophia Edwards had just arrived from another school when she noticed Martinez was having difficulty breathing.
Before she could even grab her medical supplies, Martinez stopped breathing.
"That's when I did the Heimlich maneuver to compress the fluid in his chest, and he coughed that out," says Edwards.
By the time the ambulance arrived, Martinez was doing fine.
"I was very frightened for Martinez and knew he needed help. I did what I am trained to do," she says.
Tracey Smith says Edwards did more than just do her job -- she saved her son's life.
"I am just thankful she was there," says Smith. "I just thank God for her, because without her experience and qualifications, he'd probably wouldn't have been here."
Edwards says this is a perfect example of why she believes every school needs a full-time nurse.
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