When Jessica Penoyer opened her door, she didn’t expect to see her young neighbor standing there, looking alarmed. At first, she thought the five-year-old boy was holding a doll. But her heart sank when she realized it wasn’t a toy—it was his baby sister.
The boy, Salvatore Cicalese, wasted no time explaining. His mom had collapsed in the shower, and he thought she was “dead.” His small voice was urgent as he described what had happened. Determined to get help, Salvatore had grabbed a stool, dragged it to the garage door, and stretched up to reach the switch to open it. He admitted he’d fallen once but tried again, refusing to give up.
Jessica, shaken by the boy’s words, called 911 immediately. Within minutes, emergency responders were at Salvatore’s house. They rushed to the bathroom and found his mom, Kaitlyn Cicalese, unconscious in the tub. It was a close call—without Salvatore’s quick thinking, the situation could have ended in tragedy.
Kaitlyn later revealed she’d suffered a seizure, which caused her to lose consciousness. She was lucky her son acted so swiftly. After receiving medical care, Kaitlyn began to recover. But her son’s bravery left a lasting impression.
Salvatore’s concern didn’t stop there. Even after his mom started feeling better, he kept checking on her, worried about another seizure or worse. “Are you okay, Mom?” he’d ask, his young voice filled with worry. Though Kaitlyn reassured him she would be fine, knowing her son had the courage and resourcefulness to save her gave her peace of mind.
This story is a powerful reminder of how even the smallest heroes can make the biggest difference. Share Salvatore’s inspiring act of bravery with your friends and family on Facebook—you never know who might need to hear about the courage of a five-year-old boy who refused to give up.
