It was the kind of day people in the Midwest wait for all year. Sun overhead, the lake calm, and kids laughing, playing in the water. Jessica Simones was at Gull Lake in Minnesota with her daughter, Jocelyn, and a group of family and friends, soaking in the beauty of summer.
In a moment, everything changed.
Jocelyn was pulled from the water by a friend—unresponsive, not breathing, and without a pulse. Cell phone service at the lake was spotty, adding to the urgency and chaos.
Without waiting for help that might not come in time, Jessica dropped to her knees on the dock.
Years of medical experience kicked in—but so did something deeper. She began CPR, working to bring her daughter back. She eventually revived Jocelyn and continued to monitor her breathing and care as they transported her to the nearest hospital, keeping her safe, warm, and alive.
Jessica had participated in code blue events many times in her previous work at Children’s Hospital. But this time, it was profoundly different.
“Nothing prepares you for doing it on your own child,” she said quietly. “I’ll never get that image out of my head.” Thankfully, Jocelyn has since made a full recovery and is eagerly anticipating her high school graduation. She is also excitedly planning for a future career in medicine at the College of Saint Scholastica in the fall.
Honoring extraordinary personal action
At a recent ceremony held at the Allina Medical Center in Faribault, Minnesota, the American Red Cross honored Jessica with one of its highest awards: the Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action.
“It’s a recognition reserved for those who, in a moment of crisis, step up during an emergency to save or sustain a life,” said Melanie Tschida, Executive Director for the American Red Cross serving Southern Minnesota. “Whether or not they were trained by the Red Cross, their actions reflect our humanitarian mission to prevent and alleviate human suffering.”
“Jessica, this award honors your courage—not just as a nurse, but as a mother,” said Carrie Carlson-Guest, regional communications director. “Your quick thinking and selfless actions made all the difference.”
Why training matters
At the hospital, healthcare workers later shared that just a one-minute delay could have led to a much different outcome for Jocelyn.
Those first moments on the dock—the ones Jessica made count—are why CPR training matters.
The American Red Cross encourages everyone to train for the moments that matter. Visit RedCross.org/MNDAKS to learn more and sign up for a course today.
American Red Cross Minnesota and Dakotas Region 