Quick-thinking pair save grandmother’s life

QUICK thinking by her grandsons saved Fran Gronow’s life as she suffered a stroke.

Fran Gronow was caring for her two grandkids at home in Elwood when she began to exhibit signs of a stroke. her elder grandson Eoin, aged 12, saved her life, recognising the signs and calling the ambulance. Pictured is Eoin (12) (R) , Fran and Mark (10) (L) who also played a role in the saving of his Gran. Picture: Paul Loughnan

YOUNGSTERS Eoin, 12, and his brother, Mark, 10, sit down on the lounge suite in their Elwood home next to grandmother Fran Gronow as she looks admiringly at them: “These boys are my heroes.”

Almost a year ago to the day, in the same house, the brothers acted quickly when Ms Gronow suffered a stroke.

“I had one more page of my book to read and I said to the boys that I couldn’t move my arm. I felt dizzy,’’ Ms Gronow said.

Eoin wasted no time, calling 000 to get an ambulance.

“I said, ‘I think she has had a stroke’,’’ Eoin said.

“They asked me to do the FAST test (Face, Arm, Speech, Time) and she did pretty well in the test but her speech was dragging and her arm was still not OK.”

The ambulance arrived in about 15 minutes but the boys’ job was not done yet.

“I remember Eoin said to Mark ‘You need to get your shoes on, we are going to the hospital, too’,” Ms Gronow said.

The trio all went to The Alfred in the ambulance, as Eoin tried to phone his parents.

“Our two aunties had strokes in Ireland,” Eoin said.

“So it wasn’t strange but there were no adults around except grandma and she was the patient so we thought we better go with her.”

A couple of hours later Ms Gronow’s arm returned to normal but she required two weeks of hospital and rehab before making a full recovery.

The Eltham 75-year-old continues to “boy-sit” her two grandsons every school holidays.

“Their parents are nice people and they brought them up nicely,’’ Ms Gronow said. “They have a special place (in my heart) and vice versa — you can really feel it.”

Eoin and Mark have been nominated for a Pride of Australia Medal, which recognise our local heroes.

You can nominate someone for a Pride of Australia Medal