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A man called 911 but couldn't speak, so his 5-year-old daughter heroically stepped in

"Don't worry, Dad."

jeffsaks123/YouTube
A man called 911, then his 5-year-old picked up the phone. Life-saving adorableness ensued

The old "Someone call 911!" scene in TV and movies makes stressful emergencies seem a lot easier to manage than they actually are. If you've ever been the one to make that call, you know that adrenaline comes on strong. It can give you energy and strength, but it can also make you shaky, and it can make it hard to keep a clear head while you talk to the dispatcher. You might have trouble staying calm, clearly describing the situation and your location, and following potentially life-saving instructions.

That's what makes this next story all the more incredible. A 911 call can be a scary thing, and an emergency call from a dad having chest pains and trouble breathing is no exception. But thankfully, an exchange between that dad's 5-year-old daughter and 911 dispatcher Jason Bonham turned out to be more humor than horror. If you missed hearing the recording that has repeatedly gone viral since 2010, you have to hear it now. It's perfectly timeless.

When an Indiana dad used his cell phone to called 911 and couldn't talk, his daughter Savannah picked up the phone. Remaining remarkably calm, cool, and collected, the articulate 5-year-old expertly answered Bonham's questions—and added her own hilarious commentary as well.


 911, 911 call, emergency, kids, cute, adorable, family, dad, dads and daughters, ambulance 5-year-old Savannah did an amazing job staying on the phone until medical help arrived for her dad.  Photo by Mark Boss on Unsplash  

At Bonham's request, she made sure the front door was unlocked so the emergency crew could get in. She told him about their dog, Lou Lou, who was "small" and "barks a lot," but was "friendly." She consoled her dad—who may have been in the middle of a heart attack—with "Don't worry, Dad," and "Stay calm, Dad." (Cue tears here, wow.)

She also kept the dispatcher up to speed on what was happening, repeatedly saying, "So far, so good." She asked her dad Bonham's questions, like had this ever happened before? Was he having chest pain? Was he able to breathe? She acted as mouthpiece and translator, effortlessly multitasking during the call.

But the pièce de résistance was when Savannah told Bonham that she and her dad were in their "jammies" so she'd have to change. "I don't know what I'm gonna wear, but...he really needs oxygen, real fast."

Five. Years. Old. This kid is seriously something else. Watch:


  - YouTube  www.youtube.com  

Recordings and news clips of the call have racked up millions and millions of views. People just can't believe Savannah's remarkable poise and adorable wit.

"That moment you know you won as a parent," a YouTube commenter said.

"This little girl is extremely bright, & has NOT been raised with a lot of mombo-jumbo baby-talk ; the parents have done a great job of raising a very articulate child" another added.

"This brought tears to my eyes the way she looked after her daddy," someone wrote.

"I defy anyone not to shed a tear when she says 'don't worry Dad!' That is pure perfection," added another.


@crimewave_911

Savannah Hensley, an incredibly brave 5-year-old girl, called 911 to get help for her father, who was experiencing chest pains and was having trouble breathing. The 911 dispatcher was surprised and even thankful for how calm Hensley was in the situation. She was only 5 years old but very composed and aware of the situation at hand. Frank, her father, was in no position to speak, but Savannah was up to the job. What 911 dispatcher Jason Bonham didn't expect was for Savannah to keep him entertained #911 #911call #fyp #fypシ #fypシ゚viral #fypage #crime #crimestories #crimejunkie #brave #saved #story #viral #police

Bonham said he was surprised by how Savannah handled the call. "Most people when you talk to them, they're hysterical," he told Eyewitness News. "Every time I've listened to it it's amazing. She's just a little person."

Thankfully, despite the scare, everything turned out fine for Savannah's dad. When the story went viral, her mom posted on Facebook, "We are so grateful & blessed that Savannah's 911 call is still being circulated. It makes the whole entire night worth while. The more awareness it brings & the more adults that teach children what to do the better!"

The story originally occurred about 15 years ago, which makes Savannah around 20-years-old today. According to posts on her mother's Facebook profile, Savannah looks happy and thriving in her normal, everyday life, despite the story picking up new viewers every single year.

Well done teaching that kiddo, mom and dad. She was truly amazing. And kudos to Jason Bonham for the masterclass in talking a child through a life-threatening emergency. Thanks to these two heroes, everything turned out A-OK for this Indiana family.

This article originally appeared four years ago. It has been updated.

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Plus size figure skater with unreal moves is inspiring girls everywhere

So many kids have been told they can't figure skate because of their body shape. The doubters were clearly wrong.

Canva Photos

This figure skater is something else.

Is there anything more beautiful and graceful than ice skating? It's got the gorgeous aesthetics of gymnastics and dance combined with an almost other-worldliness as the skaters glide and fly around the ice. There's a reason people can't seem to look away from the rink when the winter Olympics roll around every couple of years.

However, the sports of ice skating comes with certain expectations of what the skaters body should look like. For women, most high level skaters are almost always extremely petite and slight. It stands to reason that this body type must be a requirement to perform at a high level, right?

Wrong. Laine Dubin is one skater who's out to prove that there's no "right way" for an athlete to look.

Dubin, most recently a student at Quinnipiac University where she was a standout on the skating team, began posting videos of her routines online in 2018. Believe it or not, she didn't set out to start a body-positive revolution—she just wanted to document her progress and free up some space on her phone,

But almost instantly, she began to develop a following. No one had ever seen anyone like her pulling off the moves that she could, all with so much personality and showmanship that sucked people in. Not only that, Dubin displays outstanding power and grace on the ice. If you've only ever watched the "prototypical" Olympic skaters perform, what Dubin does almost looks impossible. It's really amazing to behold.

One clip in particular recently went mega viral to the tune of over 30 million views:


@lainedubin

THE WINNER TAKES IT ALLLLLLLLL🏆🥇 🎥 @Emma #figureskating #figureskatingtiktok #iceskating #iceskatingtiktok #plussizefigureskater #figureskatingtiktoks #iceskater #figureskater #adultfigureskater #adultsskatetoo

Dubin has undoubtedly found her people on social media. The responses to her videos could bring tears to your eyes. Not only are viewers in awe of her skill on the ice, they find so much hope and inspiration in what Dubin is doing:

"Ok but as a bigger Asian girl who has always dreamed of ice skating this made me tear up 😭 so proud of you"

"I NEVER see plus sized rep in figure skating, YOU ARE INCREDIBLE THIS IS SO COOL!!"

"the fact no one knows how absolutely impressive this is especially with girls our size I love ice skating I've been a fan forever the power and strength you need to pull your up and spin like that"

"wait! someone with my body type figure skating?!!! like a GODDESS may I add, this makes me feel so seen, and like, maybe I could do this with some practice as well!!!!!???"

"As a plus sized girl who had the idea of figure skating shot down, thank you for making the lil girl in me happy and I'm so damn proud of you. You're awesome."

The comments just like these roll in on Dubin's videos every single day. But that doesn't mean that general attitudes across the sport are ready to change.

Women skaters, especially, are mercilessly mocked, fat-shamed, and picked apart by viewers, coaches, and even judges of the sport. Five-time Olympic medalist Tessa Virtue has dealt with people nitpicking her body her entire career, called either too fat or too muscular. Bronze medalist and two-time US National Champion Gracie Gold had to take a hiatus from the sport to get help with an eating disorder. One of the most promising young figure skaters in recent memory, Yulia Lipnitskaya, was forced to retire at just 19 due to anorexia along with injuries.

There are a lot of factors that contribute to this major problem. The norm is for female skaters in competition to wear incredibly skimpy dresses and outfits that accentuate their form and technique, which would make anyone self-conscious about their body. Canadian skater Kaetlyn Osmond adds that less body mass also helps them achieve sky-high jumps on the ice.

@lainedubin

the greatest thing you’ve ever seen since sliced bread🍞 (thats a joke people) #figureskating #figureskatingtiktok #iceskating #iceskatingtiktok #plussizefigureskater #figureskatingtiktoks #iceskater #figureskater #collegiatefigureskating

Dubin is living proof, though, that a plus-sized body can be athletic, graceful, and beautiful. It means so much to all the kids who think they shouldn't bother pursuing their love of the sport because their own body type will never allow them to fit in.

“It’s just people seeing representation in the media of themselves being represented first,” Dubin tells US Figure Skating. “That’s what will make people feel validated and that’s what will lead to change with body inclusivity in the skating space.”

The way she's racking up millions and millions of views, it's fair to say she—along with other plus-sized skaters—could have a real, tangible impact on the next generation of skating athletes.

This article originally appeared in April

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Watch a 5-year-old piano prodigy absolutely shred the ivories... while blindfolded

He's preparing to play Carnegie Hall before his 6th birthday.

Canva Photos

A 5-year-old piano prodigy has been invited to play at New York City's most prestigious concert call.

When I was five, the year was 1992. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was my whole world, I was getting ready to start kindergarten, and the most pressing issue on my mind was what to put on my Christmas list (Answer: A Sega Genesis). I took piano lessons around that age, but gave it up after a few years because I was more interested in other things (like my Sega Genesis).

Five-year-old Armenian-American Alec Van Khajadourian has taken a slightly different approach. His natural talent, passion, and work ethic have turned him into one of the most skilled pianists of his age in the entire world. In other words, he's a prodigy.

The child began showing his natural talents at the age of two. By age three-and-a-half, his piano teacher discovered that Alec has "perfect pitch" which is a rare and unique ability some people seem to be born with that allows them to correctly identify any note they hear. Think of it like photographic memory for music. Only about 1 in 10,000 people have the ability, which comes from a combination of genetic predisposition and early exposure to music.

When he was four, he performed his first recital alongside fifth graders (usually age 10-11). By five, he had won multiple international music competitions.

“When he started walking, he’d go right to the piano, tapping keys and smiling from ear to ear,” his father said in an interview. “We could tell right away that he had a special connection to music, and his skills have developed incredibly quickly.”

His parents have been posting some of Alec's incredible performances online to a social media account they manage, including one where he attempts an extremely challenging piece while wearing a blindfold.

The selection, one of Alec's favorites, is "Flamenco" by W. Gillock. It's an extremely inventive and upbeat piece that's fun to play and relatively easy to learn due to its composition and symmetry, but it requires some advanced hand, wrist, and finger techniques to pull off at a high level.

It also helps if you have your eyesight available. But that doesn't seem to hinder Alec very much in this clip.

After a video of Alec showing off his incredible perfect pitch skills went viral, local news stations around the country started picking up his story.

People just couldn't believe what those tiny hands could do on the ivories, and they got so much joy out of watching how much Alec loves to play.

"bravo to this young boy! The future looks bright" one commenter wrote.

"Cuteness overload and a little prodigy!" someone said.

"So cool, keep up the good work dude!" added another.

Did you know that there's actually a specific definition of the word "prodigy"?

I always thought a prodigy was any young kid who showed exceptional abilities in a given field. While that's accurate, the true definition is a little more specific.

Prodigy specifically refers to a child under the age of 10 who can perform at the level of a highly-trained adult.

Watching Alec play, it's clear that at the age of five he's well beyond the level that most adults could reach without serious training. The finger movement, wrist positioning, and playing speed are remarkable. And he does it all while his arms are too short to reach the whole set of keys—watch him slide up and down the bench so that he can play the full scale. It's incredible.

The obvious question that Alec's parents get a lot is whether they're pushing him into it. They say that Alec is completely self-driven and motivated, and that their job is to nurture his talent—as long as he wants them to.

“As long as it brings him joy, we’ll continue to support him," Alec's father said.

In interviews, they say Alec is really a normal five-year-old in most ways. He plays with the family dog, loves video games, and goes to pre-school. But his entire demeanor changes when he sits down at the piano. He brings an intense focus to his craft while still managing to take joy in playing.

“It makes me feel good,” Alec told NBC Los Angeles. “It feels calm.”

  - YouTube  www.youtube.com  

What's next for Alec? Well, his whole life, for starters. But more immediately, he's been invited to perform at Carnegie Hall and Disney Concert Hall.

The pianist was four years old when he decided he one day wanted to play at New York City's Carnegie Hall, one of the most storied and legendary musical venues in the United States. When his skills began going viral, it wasn't long before he received an invite to perform there. Achieving his lifelong dream before he even turns six—not bad!

He'll play at the NY Classic Debut Awards Gala Concert in July 2025.

Alec is also beginning to compose his own music. For reference, Mozart wrote his own first composition when he was only five and, suffice it to say, it still slaps.

  - YouTube  www.youtube.com  

I've always wondered why we're so fascinated with child prodigies.

It's inherently fun and surprising to see tiny people excelling at things far beyond their years. But I think it's also enjoyable to imagine what it would be like to find something you're passionate about and extremely good at from a young age. For many of us, it takes years and years, decades even, to find even one or the other—let alone both.

Prodigies, especially in the social media age, always face a critical transition at some point. When the novelty of their young age begins to wear off and people stop being amazed at their precociousness, what do they do? Do they double down on their craft and solidify themselves as a true master, or do they take the opportunity to let go of the fame and go live a more "normal" life?

Alec has a bright future ahead of him in music, that much is for sure. We can't wait to see where his talents take him, on the piano or otherwise.

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Tiny dog goes ballistic every time she sees a blueberry and it's truly a must-see situation

People are rolling at Spud's…uh…"enthusiasm" for finger fruit.

Photo credit: Canva

Ever seen a blueberry attack? It's a sight to see.

Every animal has its unique quirks, but some quirks are quirkier than others. Many people think their pets are uniquely strange, but then an oddity comes along that makes you say say, "Okay, now that is truly a one-of-a-kind creature."

Enter Spud, also known as Spud the cryptid, whose over-the-top reaction to blueberries has people cracking up. Or rather, her reaction to a blueberry. When her owner tosses a blueberry her way, Spud goes ballistic. That's the only word to describe it, and it really just has to be witnessed first-hand:

 
@spud.the.cryptid

she loves it

 


This is not a one-off reaction. Spud does this every time, with every blueberry.

@spud.the.cryptid

Replying to @SillyMilly

 

People lost their minds over Spud losing her mind over blueberries.

"This was completely unprovoked hostility towards an innocent, sweet little blueberry."

"And STILL, No blueberries were harmed during the making of this video. NONE."

"This is also how I act around blueberries so I get it."

"That blueberry is probably terrified and confused."

"I am both terrified and in love."

"Hitting pause at any time during this vid is sending me. 😭"

Seriously, try watching those videos again and pausing them at random times. Spud's owner just did that and shared screenshots, and they're as epic as you might expect.

 

 dog, spud the cryptid, tiktok, fruit, blueberry, weird pets TikTok · spud the cryptid  www.tiktok.com  

 


People had things to say about the freeze frames as well, of course.

"I can't stop laughing. She looks taxidermied but also adorable."

 

"Spud was trying to go through the five stages of grief but never made it past anger."

"Like a wee little angel…of death."

"How is this dog both frightening and adorable."

If you're wondering if it's just blueberries that makes Spud go bonkers, no, it's not. While it appears blueberries are her favorite fruit to attack-yet-not-attack, she has similar interactions with radishes, strawberries, and even a pea.

@spud.the.cryptid

this might look like a strawberry and pea but really it’s men who have wronged her

Another thing you should know about Spud is that she has a particular affinity for Grandma. Watch how she "turns into a giraffe," as one commenter put it, when she hears it's time to go to visit Grandma.

 

The blueberry enthusiasm extends to Grandma in real life, judging by the way Spud "attacks" her when she sees her.

@spud.the.cryptid

Replying to @EllieVision 🇬🇧

 

"It’s so funny because we can all be together for days and anytime i say 'is that grandma?!' spud just loses it even if she’s been sleeping on her lap lol," Spuds owner writes. "That word just activates something in her."

If you're wondering what exactly a "cryptid" is, it's a creature that people have claimed exists or existed, but whose existence has never been proven. Think BigFoot or the Loch Ness monster. Spud most definitely exists, but her looks and quirks do make her appear almost mythical, so it's an apropos nickname.

  - YouTube  www.youtube.com  

 

Spud's owner shared the lore about her, saying Spud is 3,000 years old, has a degree in fashion design, hates fascists, and went to "the earth worm university." If you can't get enough of Spud, you're not alone. People are taking note of Spud's spunky and "delightfully creepy" little self, and she's growing quite a following online.

 

 dog, spud the cryptid, tiktok, pup, viral TikTok · spud the cryptid  www.tiktok.com  

 

Spud even has a line of merch, because of course she does. You can get a tote bag with Spud's face on it that says, "I hate fascists," a shirt that has Spud dressed up as a strawberry on it, and more.

As one person wrote, "If Spud were a cult leader I'd be the first member," to which Spud's owner responded, "Don't tempt her to start running another cult." Oh my.

You can follow Spud for more fruity, cryptid, cultish, Grandma-loving adventures at @spud.the.cryptid on TikTok.

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