By Anika Kurkut

In December 2023, Rishi Leung, a 16-year-old in his home in San Francisco, was heading to the kitchen to get a drink when he noticed his grandma walking to the sink and losing her balance. She had just been eating a meal and seeing her disoriented was unusual. He said, “She spun and fell over and that was the moment I realized that something wasn’t right.”

He ran over to assess the situation and help her. His grandma was visibly struggling to speak and thanks to Rishi’s encounter with American Red Cross posters around his school and videos online, he realized his grandma might be choking. In that moment, Rishi remained composed despite the adrenaline coursing through his body and took the initiative to perform abdominal thrusts on his grandma. “I remembered seeing this in the videos. I wasn’t sure if it would work, but I had to try to help her,” Rishi explained.

Rishi’s efforts were successful. Anita, Rishi’s mother, observed from a distance while battling COVID-19 at the time. “I watched Rishi help his grandma and call 911. I was very grateful that he acted, and I remember four EMTs [emergency medical technicians] entering our house with their equipment,” she recalled. “It was a very scary experience, especially since Rishi’s grandma couldn’t speak English. But knowing Rishi was in the ambulance with her brought reassurance.”

During the ambulance ride, Rishi comforted his grandma, translating for her and holding her hand. At the hospital, Rishi watched as medical professionals attended to his grandma, feeling a wave of relief knowing she was going to recover. “I’m very grateful that I was able to help her, and from this experience, I’ve learned how important it is to spend time with family,” Rishi exclaimed.

His family members and relatives were also grateful for Rishi for taking the lead. “He showed up in an emergency in a way that left us all in awe. We were all grateful that he was there and that he was inclined to help people and solve problems,” Anita said. Rishi and his family were glad that they had more time with his grandma.

Reflecting on this experience, Rishi believes this was a transformative experience that reshaped his perspective and taught him important lessons. He values every moment spent with his ‘Nanni’ (grandmother in Hindi) and has gained a newfound appreciation for emergency responders. “I’ve learned that being prepared and living in the moment are crucial,” Rishi emphasized. “It means a lot to me that my efforts were recognized, and I plan to become CPR-certified through the Red Cross.”

In recognition of his bravery, Rishi was awarded the Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action at the Presidio Golf Club on June 26, 2024. He has also initiated a machine learning project to monitor his grandma during meals, aiming to increase safety and bring awareness to eating habits. Lastly, Rishi encourages everyone to complete CPR training because “it can save a life, literally.”