When seconds count: How a community of heroes saved one little girl

WINTER GARDEN, Fla. — It was a day like any other — until the phone rang. For Ellison’s mom, that call froze time: “You need to get here right away.”

By the time she reached the hospital, her little girl was surrounded by the care team at AdventHealth Winter Garden. The story began earlier at daycare, when Ellison started choking. First responders rushed in. A police officer performed CPR until EMTs arrived. Every second mattered.

“The moment I walked down that hallway, escorted by staff, and saw this massive crowd standing around her room — just watching and waiting — it was surreal,” Ellison’s mom recalls.

This month, Ellison returned to Winter Garden — not as a patient, but as a miracle. She was there to celebrate with dozens of doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, firefighters and one very special officer who saved her life.

Officer Bryce Riley, of the Winter Garden Police Department, smiled as he held baby Ellison. The last time he saw her, she was being loaded into an ambulance.

“I remember giving her CPR and seeing the color return to her face. Knowing it was working — that’s what mattered most,” he said.

When Ellison arrived at Winter Garden, the team was ready for her. Their hard work and quick action provided the critical care to stabilize baby Ellison before she was transferred to Orlando. After eight weeks in the PICU, Ellison finally came home.

Officer Riley later wrote a heartfelt letter to hospital leadership, commending the Emergency Department team members’ extraordinary efforts and recommending them for the DAISY Award. For the first time, the entire Emergency Department team at Winter Garden was honored as DAISY Award recipients — a tribute to the power of teamwork and the gift of life.

"This event showcased the extraordinary partnership among the Winter Garden Police Department, Winter Garden Fire Rescue and our hospital care team to work collaboratively,” said CEO Aimee Keller‑Pickford. “Gathering on our hospital campus to honor all these professionals who saved a toddler’s life was profoundly moving. Seeing the seamless continuum of care — from the 911 call to fire rescue to emergent care in our hospital — reminded us of what is possible when we work as one. We are honored to recognize and committed to strengthening this lifesaving partnership for our community.”

“My baby girl would not be here today if it wasn’t for everyone in this room right now,” says Ellison’s mom, Rachel.