8-Year-Old Calls 911 for Homework Help — Ends Up Saving His Mom’s Life

In Madison, 8-year-old Ryan Crosby dialed 911 one evening—not for an emergency, but for help with his math

homework. His mother had always told him not to hesitate to call 911 if he ever needed help. Alone and frustrated, Ryan took her advice.

The dispatcher, concerned that a young child was home alone late at night, kept Ryan on the line while

tracing his location and dispatched police to his address.

When officers arrived, they confirmed Ryan had been alone since coming home from school. Repeated calls to his mother,

Matilda, went unanswered—her phone was off. Sensing something was wrong, police launched a search using the last known

location of her device. With help from a K9 unit, they eventually found her unconscious in her car on a remote road.

Matilda had fainted due to heat exhaustion while driving back from her sister’s house, and her phone had died.

Doctors later said she survived thanks to a cracked car window that allowed air to circulate.

Matilda recovered fully, and authorities told her that Ryan’s unexpected 911 call had saved her life.

This story is a powerful reminder of the importance of teaching children how—and when—to call 911. What started

as a plea for help with math turned into a life-saving moment, proving that even a simple question can uncover a serious emergency.