General Johnnie Wilson Middle Schooler receives mayoral proclamation for helping fellow student who suffered seizure June 2

LORAIN — A seventh grader at Lorain's General Johnnie Wilson Middle School received a mayoral proclamation for lifesaving measures the teen took after a schoolmate had a seizure earlier this month. Jacob Juchnik, 13, who just finished seventh grade, was outside at the middle school's field day on June 2 when a sixth-grader suddenly had a seizure. Jacob said he looked over and saw the boy on the ground and immediately took of his sweatshirt and placed it under the 11-year-old's head to provide a cushion. "I turned him on his side and I started saying his name," Jacob said. He stayed with the boy until first responders arrived. Jacob's mother, Sarah Elkins, said she was not sure how her son knew what to do in the situation, as no one in their family has seizures. Jacob said a classmate at his elementary school in Strongsville had them, but that he never had formal training. When school officials called Elkins, she said she was in awe when they recounted her son's quick actions. "The doctors told the boy's parents that had he not intervened (Alex) could have had severe brain damage or he could have died because he kept cracking his head on the concrete before Jake intervened," Elkins said. Due to student privacy laws, Lorain Schools could not release the sixth-grade boy's name or his family's contact information to The Chronicle-Telegram. On Tuesday, Mayor Jack Bradley presented Jacob with a challenge coin — a measure often reserved for first responders — and a proclamation commemorating his swift action. "The citizens of Lorain are proud of this fine young man," Bradley said. "... Thank you for being part of our community and being an inspiration to other young people in our city. People don't realize how many good kids we have in the city … and you're one of those shining examples." Contact Carissa Woytach at (440) 329-7245 or cwoytach@chroniclet.com