11-year-old girl saves grandmother's life with CPR

NORTH HILLS, LOS ANGELES COUNTY (KABC) -- Rita Lovato, 72, is out of an intensive care unit and alive thanks to her granddaughter's heroic and quick-thinking actions.

Kendall Stilwell was spending the night at her grandmother's house when Lovato stopped breathing last Wednesday. That's when Kendall jumped into action.

"My brain just said I had to do it," Kendall said.

The pair have always shared a special bond and Kendall's heroic actions have only strengthened their connection.

"I was in bed and then, all of a sudden, I heard these weird noises, so I turned my head, and it was my Nana and she was drenched in sweat, so then I turned her over, and ran to her side and started to do CPR," Kendall said.

The fifth-grader called 911, carefully following the instructions.

"I was doing chest compressions, I was counting like 1, 2, 3, 4," Kendall said.

Responding paramedics were surprised to find an 11-year-old handling the life or death emergency.

"I saw their eyes like open wide," Kendall said.

Doctors say Lovato suffered a major heart attack and that the CPR saved her life.

"When the paramedics got there, they had to restart her heart four times," Kendall's father, Art Stilwell said. "If it wasn't for her, the paramedics and the fire department says there's no possible way she would have made it."

Kendall's family say they can't believe she didn't panic and were surprised to learn she even knew CPR.

"My Nana taught me when I was little in case something happened to Papa," Kendall said.

The 72-year-old never thought she would be the one in need of those lifesaving skills.

"I'm just really happy she's OK," Kendall said.