ARDMORE, Ala. — First grade teacher Mrs. Hodges was having a normal work day consisting of adding, subtracting, and even some singing and dancing.
After Mrs. Hodges finished singing and dancing with her class, something didn't feel right for the Cedar Hill Elementary School teacher.
Mrs. Hodges suddenly began to involuntarily move strangely, which her young students took notice of.
It turns out those strange movements were a result of a seizure, and her students immediately leapt into action. The first student who took notice was 1st grader Caleb Pierce who claims he saw "her shaking".
Once Caleb and his classmates realized that something was not right, they ran to get help.
Caleb explains that "[they went] to the nurse to get some help."
This heroic call for help, in turn, helped save their teachers life.
Mrs. Hodges tearfully explains, "They said at first they thought I was just playing because we had been singing and dancing and when they saw me trembling they thought it was just something I was doing." Mrs. Hodges goes on to say, "Then they realized that it was much more than that and that they had to get help."
These heroic youngsters realized just how scary the situation was with Mrs. Hodges explaining that, "Several of them told [her] that after they got the help they went to the restroom and cried," so she knows it "had to be hard on them."
Doctors told Hodges she had a coronavirus seizure. To Mrs. Hodges' surprise, she had no idea she COVID-19 prior to the classroom incident because she hadn't noticed any other symptoms.
Although Hodges has been teaching for 28 years, this school year will definitely be one that she'll remember for many more school years to come.
She's extremely proud that her students were able to spring into action so quickly, and for that, these Cedar Hill first graders will forever be known as Hodge's Heroes.