Magic number three: Triplets Abigayle, Jordyn and Patrick Carey saved the life of Diana Pryor, who suffered a seizure while watching the children. The youngsters’ heroism was recently honored with a City Council citation.
The power of three.
Precisely, the power of triplets — Abigayle, Jordyn and Patrick Carey — saved a life, City Councilman Brian O’Neill told members of the Greater Bustleton Civic League last week.
On one late summer day, Diana Pryor was caring for the children in their Bustleton home when she had a gran mal seizure. Abigayle, Jordyn and Patrick saw the woman was badly positioned on a couch and her breathing was obstructed. Pryor was purple.
The kids put her on the floor and cleared her airways. And, then they got to work. Abigayle called 911. Patrick called their father, Patrick Carey, a Philadelphia Fire Department paramedic. Jordyn called a neighbor. They let in paramedics.
The triplets weren’t quite 10 at the time, the councilman (R-10th dist.) told league members as he read a City Council citation that honored them as heroes.
The kids, their parents, Patrick and Andria, the paramedics and Pryor were all at the Feb. 25 meeting as league members gave them a standing ovation.
“I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for them,” Pryor said. Pryor, a longtime family friend who actually babysit the kids’ mom, had never before had a seizure.
The kids hear their parents talking about their experience, Patrick Carey said during a Feb 26 interview.
“We talk about what happened and they listen and ask questions,” he said.
Their mom, Andria, and dad told the kids about first aid and CPR, he said. The paramedics saw the Carey triplets had everything under control when they showed up, he said.
They have a reward coming to them, their father said. They’re going to Disney World.
BUSY SESSION
At the same meeting at the American Heritage Federal Credit Union, league members met Capt. Michael Gormley, the new commander of the 7th Police District; backed a variance for a Geiger Road dental practice; heard some good news about plans for the Bustleton Bengals’ new gym; met state legislative candidate Martina White; heard from City Councilman Ed Neilson (D-at large); and heard about an amendment to the city zoning code.
• Gormley, a Fishtown native who now lives in the 15th District, was promoted to captain last year. The 7th is his first command. He replaces Frank Bachmayer, who was promoted to inspector.
• Members unanimously backed a zoning variance that would allow Dr. David Bresler to use 211 Geiger Road for his dental practice. The variance is needed because the property is not zoned for a medical practice. The Zoning Board of Adjustment will conduct a hearing on Bresler’s application at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 31, at 1515 Arch St., 18th floor.
• O’Neill said a donor who wants to remain anonymous has donated $17,500 to the Bustleton Bengals’ fund drive for a new gym. That amount pushes the local athletic association over the top to the needed $135,000, or 10 percent of the gym’s full cost. The lion’s share will be supplied by the city. It’s hoped the gym will be erected at Hayes Playground in under a year.
• More money is needed for possible cost overruns and other factors, the councilman said, pointing to the Bengals’ “buy a brick” campaign. Visit www.bustletonbengals.org for more info.
• One of the first people to buy a brick was Neilson, who O’Neill said tenaciously tried to get state dollars for the project while he was in the Pennsylvania House. Neilson, who was appointed to council to fill Bill Green’s seat when he left last year to chair the School Reform Commission, is running for a full term in this year’s municipal elections. O’Neill said residents would be well-served by Neilson.
• Republican Martina White made her pitch to Bustleton voters for the March 24 special election to replace new U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle for the 170th state legislative district seat. White, a financial adviser, faces Demo-crat Sarah Del-Ricci.
• Home occupations, O’Neill said, now will require zoning variances. The councilman had his amendment to the city’s new zoning code recently passed by council and signed by the mayor. ••
