Casey Tibbs is known as a hero among his peers at the Dunklin Day Activity Center. Leah Mobley, director of the DDAC, pictured along with Tibbs, praises Tibbs for his quick action in an emergency situation, which helped save his mother's life. Staff photo by Trina Bell [Click to enlarge]

One might think differently now since there are places like the Dunklin Day Activity Center (DDAC) where people like Leah Mobley work with individuals with disabilities and spend countless hours teaching them how to respond to emergency situations.

It was that type of training that helped one individual who is a client at the Dunklin Day Activity Center save the life of his own mother.

Casey Tibbs, 24, of Kennett, who has been a client at the DDAC since Oct. 6, 2004, recently became a hero among his peers and a star pupil to those who have helped him live up to his potential.

A few weeks back, Tibbs was at home with his mother, who has a variety of health issues herself. Geneva, Tibbs' mother, said all she remembers is that it became extremely hard for her to breathe. The next thing she knew she was at the local emergency room where paramedics informed her that her son helped save her life.

Ms. Tibbs explained that she has congestive heart failure and COPD. During the time I blacked out, Casey had called 911, who in turn dispatched an ambulance and police officers to my residence," she said. "It was after I came to at the hospital that I learned he had done all of this for me. He got the emergency personnel first and then he called our neighbor who is a family friend."

Ms. Tibbs said she never thought that her son would be the one who would have to help her. "I've always had to be the one to take care of Casey. Now he is my right arm," she said.

Ms. Tibbs said she is so grateful for Mobley and the staff at the DDAC who invest their time and heart into helping those with disabilities. "I didn't know that Casey even knew what to do in a situation like that," his mother said, "but thank God he did."

Casey, who is a very modest individual, said his response to his mother's emergency was God's will. When asked how he felt about knowing what to do when his mother needed him, he shook his head and said, "It was God's will."

Mobley, who is the center's director, said she is not surprised about Casey's heroic effort. "I'm not surprised because Casey is such a capable person," Mobley said. "But I am so dog gone proud of him for stepping up and remembering what to do without panicking."

Mobley and her staff spend a lot of time working with their clients, studying, practicing and role playing in emergency situations.

"After Casey's experience, I feel that now more than ever it is important that we continue this education, teaching and practicing what to do should any of them be in a situation like the one Casey was in," Mobley said.

Mobley said not only is it important for the clients to know what to do should any of them need medical attention, but since most of them live with elderly parents, it is especially important for them to know what to do should someone need their help some day.

"Casey, with the grace of God, saved his mother's life," Mobley said. "He should be as proud of himself as we are of him. "He's an awesome young man."