Southfield man saves son's life with RRT training

10-month-old son stopped breathing

PONTIAC, Mich. – Many people develop certain skills at work, even if they don't often use them in their personal or family lives.

But one local man, who's also a registered respiratory therapist, found his two worlds colliding when he had just the right skills to save his baby boy's life.

Larry Lewis, of Southfield, was driving his boys around Saturday when he noticed his baby wasn't breathing.

Lewis is a registered respiratory therapist, and his training likely saved his 10-month-old son, Luke Lewis.

"I was taking groceries in, not even a minute goes by and I come out and he's blue," Lewis said.

Lewis took Luke out of the car and tried the Heimlich maneuver. When that didn't work, he tried CPR.

"I laid my son on the porch and started CPR," Lewis said.

His 7-year-old son, Landon, called 911, then called his mother.

"'Mommy, mommy, Luke isn't breathing and daddy is trying to save him'" Dianna Lewis said.

Larry Lewis continued performing CPR until life came back into his son's eyes. Paramedics transported the boy to a hospital, where he stayed for two days.

Doctors think the boy might have had a reaction to an immunization, but they aren't sure. They said Luke is lucky his father was there.

"He without a doubt saved our son's life," Dianna Lewis said.


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Jamie anchors sports coverage on Local 4 News Saturdays at 6 & 11 p.m. and Sunday at 6 p.m., in addition to hosting Sports Final Edition.

Derick is the Lead Digital Editor for ClickOnDetroit and has been with Local 4 News since April 2013. Derick specializes in breaking news, crime and local sports.

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