Credit: Submitted
A Pennsbury High School student came through for his mother in a major way last Friday.
Rita Meszaros along with her husband and 18-year-old son Sonny (Steven) live in Birch Valley, only about a five minute walk from the Pennsbury High School East campus in Falls Township.
Advertisements
On Friday morning, Rita slept later than usual. When she woke up at about 11:30 a.m., she was struggling to breath. Sonny, at school following his usual lunchtime ritual, texted his mother to check in and make sure she was doing alright.
Rita, who has respiratory problems, mentioned that she was having trouble breathing, and Sonny asked if she needed him to come home. Rita responded that she did.
“If he couldn’t come home, I don’t know what would have happened to me. I really don’t,” Rita said. She added shat Sonny knew he had to get home and “he was on a mission.”
Advertisements
When Sonny told his teacher that he needed to go to help his mother, she told him to “just go.” He was stopped by the front office, but he told staff he needed to go to help his mom. The police caught up with him as he neared the nearby Burger King and offered to take him the rest of the way home.
Upon arriving, he set Rita up with her nebulizer and her other medications. A short time later she recovered.
“I’m just glad that my decision yesterday helped my mom,” Sonny said over the phone on Saturday.
Advertisements
“I hope he never has to do that again, but I’m glad I have him if we need him,” Rita said.
“My son is autistic, but by no means does he lack morals and values.”
Rita said the high school’s security and Assistant Principal Vincent DePaola offered any additional assistance they could.
Advertisements
The school is working on a system that would let her contact Sonny’s counselor in case of emergency so that Sonny can get home in the future, according to Rita.
“I commend them [Pennsbury] greatly. I believe that Pennsbury is one of the schools that not only takes care of the students, but also their families. It makes me want to cry,” Rita said.
“I’m going to be sad to see him graduate, because it feels like we’re losing a whole family.”
