Hialeah Student Honored for Saving Father's Life

A Mater Lakes Academy student received an award after performing CPR to save his father from cardiac arrest.

Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Emergency Response

Hialeah Student Honored for Saving Father's Life

Jackson Suarez, a student at Mater Lakes Academy, was honored at a ceremony for successfully performing CPR on his father, Hector Suarez. The life-saving action occurred in July 2026 while the pair was working together.

Why it matters

The event highlights the critical importance of emergency training for youth in the local community. Through school-based programs, students are gaining the skills necessary to intervene effectively during medical emergencies.

Mater Lakes Academy maintains between 150 and 200 individuals with active CPR certifications. This institutional capacity underscores the prevalence of emergency response training within the school population.

The players

Jackson Suarez

He is a student at Mater Lakes Academy who successfully performed CPR to save his father.

Hector Suarez

He is the father of Jackson Suarez and the recipient of life-saving CPR during a medical emergency.

Mater Lakes Academy Middle/High School

This educational institution hosts a first responder program designed to train students in emergency medical techniques.

Christopher Wydra

He is a teacher at Mater Lakes Academy who leads the school's first responder program.

The details

Jackson Suarez utilized first responder skills he acquired through a specialized program at Mater Lakes Academy to assist his father, Hector Suarez. His instructor, Christopher Wydra, oversees the curriculum that prepared the student for the emergency.

The rescue occurred in July 2026.
The surprise school ceremony took place on October 12, 2026.

Seasonal Patterns

The school program aligns with the American Heart Association's CPR in Schools training guidelines, which aim to improve bystander response outcomes. This local initiative represents a growing trend of integrating life-saving certification into standard secondary education.

Residents of Hialeah can improve their own readiness by seeking out CPR training through local schools or public health organizations. Identifying the nearest location for emergency certification classes ensures that community members are prepared to act if a medical crisis occurs.

The takeaway

Effective emergency response often begins with basic training administered long before an incident occurs. Learning CPR provides individuals with the practical tools needed to stabilize loved ones during a cardiac event.