Kayden Reid, six, of Mobile, Alabama, has been hailed as a hero after his brave acts saved his younger sister’s life. Kayden and his sister Kaycee were at a family gathering on Jan. 18 when Kaycee, who was two at the time, snuck out of the house and dashed into the street.
Kayden was playing on the sidewalk when he noticed a car approaching, putting Kaycee in danger. He immediately came to a halt and leapt in front of Kaycee to protect her from being hit.
“I had to go get her before she got ran over by a car, but that’s when the car hit me,” Reid told WALA Fox10 News.
Kayden escaped the crash with only scrapes and minor injuries, which were treated at a nearby hospital. Kayden was greeted as a hero when he returned home from the hospital. The Mobile Fire/Rescue Department stopped by to congratulate the elementary school student on his good deed and to show him what career heroes like firemen do. Kayden dressed up as Superman and took a tour of the firetruck, even getting to sit in the driver’s seat.
Kayden’s mother, Kayla Giles, reminisced on the terrifying incident in a Facebook post, thanking God for keeping her children safe.
“I tell my children all the time your siblings are forever,” she wrote. “I tell them to watch out for each other because whether I leave here today or tomorrow, they will always have each other. The bravery that overcame my son yesterday when he jumped in to save his baby sister was everything to me. I can’t stop telling him how proud I am of him and what a good job he has done. I’m just glad my babies are OK!”
Kayden’s aunt, Kendra Giles Nettles, told Southern Living that the family considers Kayden to be a blessing and a source of pride.
“We are so proud of Kayden’s heroic actions that he did for his baby sister,” she said. “You know, these days it’s really hard for a six-year-old to stop what they’re doing and save their sibling. That lets us know that we are doing right by our kids. We are so thankful to have both of them here. It brought our family a lot closer … so we’re just thankful both kids are still here safe and sound. God is good.”
Kaycee celebrated her second birthday over the weekend. Kayla described the occasion as “particularly special” because of how different things may have turned out if Kayden hadn’t been there.
