THE NIGHT began like any other for Lorah McCarter and her husband as they fed their precious baby girl, Rhylee — one of their newborn twins. Having just returned from the NICU days earlier, life was finally starting to feel a little more normal. But in the blink of an eye, everything changed.
Rhylee, born prematurely at 29 weeks, had been through so much already, and just when things seemed to be settling down, her parents faced every parent’s worst nightmare.
“Her dad had seen that she was unresponsive. He brought her to me, and he said, ‘I can’t get her to respond,’” Lorah recalled with a tremble in her voice, showing the emotions that had to have been running through her. “We gave her some pats on the back, and she started to cough. But then she started to shake and go unresponsive again.”
Panic set in, and Lorah’s heart raced as she dialed 911.
“We didn’t know what was happening,” she said. “We just needed help — anybody who could come quickly.”
And that help came in the form of Patrol Officer Abigail Jones. Within minutes, Jones arrived.
“She was here so fast — maybe two or three minutes,” Lorah said. “Before she even stopped her car, she was running straight for us.”
Jones didn’t hesitate for a second.
“She grabbed Rhylee, turned her over, and gave her a few pats on the back,” Lorah said as she remembered one of the scariest nights of her life. “Then she turned her upright, saw that she still wasn’t breathing, and quickly turned her back over again.”
And then it happened — Rhylee cried. The relief was indescribable. In a matter of moments, a terrifying situation turned into one filled with hope, all thanks to the fast and decisive actions of Jones.
“Without her, we wouldn’t have our baby girl. She was Godsent in that moment,” Lorah said, her voice filled with emotion. “That is the only way to describe it.”
The story doesn’t end there. Lorah and her family recently had the chance to meet Jones again, this time under far less dire circumstances.
“We met up with her a few days ago to grab a couple of photos. She was so kind and so humble — just an amazing person,” Lorah shared. “Our family will forever be thankful for her quick actions. Without her, we’d be missing a huge piece of our hearts.”
In September, Jones was presented with the Lebanon Police Department’s Life Saving Award for her quick response and immediate action, saving Rhylee’s life.
It’s easy to understand why Jones is being recognized as a hero in her community. Her quick response and dedication saved Rhylee’s life and brought comfort to a family who will never forget her actions.
“She was exactly where she needed to be at exactly the right time. God worked through her that night,” Lorah said, reflecting on how the stars aligned that fateful evening to save her baby girl.
Today, Rhylee is a thriving 4 1/2-month-old baby, hitting all her milestones.
“She’s learned to roll over, she’s starting to coo, and she’s doing so well,” Lorah proudly shared.
That life-changing moment felt like the slowest and fastest few minutes for Lorah and her husband, and they will never forget Jones.
“She truly is our hero,” Lorah said with a smile on her face and tears filling her eyes.
The family even captured a sweet photo of Rhylee smiling up at her hero, Officer Jones — proof that sometimes, real-life heroes wear a badge. GN