By Amanda Estes 

Staff Writer

Pure excitement lights up Mason Mullen’s face and he begins clapping when he sees an ambulance return to its bay at the South Portland public safety building. The energetic 5-year-old cannot wait to explore the truck that, earlier this month, transported his mother to the hospital.

On Feb. 2, Mullen was playing with his 22-month-old twin siblings, Isabella and Gavinn, so his mother, Chrystin Mullen, could rest. Chrystin Mullen said she has myasthenia gravis – an autoimmune neuromuscular disorder that affects voluntary muscles – and was experiencing a bad reaction to a new treatment. She said she thought she was going to be sick, but later learned she had a seizure and fell unconscious, leaving her children alone.

“My heart was beating like it was bumping, like it was going over a rock,” Mason said of that day.

As of last week, however, mother and son were planning a “Mommy and Mason, my hero day” because it was Mason who called 911 and gave dispatchers the information they needed to find his home. While he waited for help, Mason entertained his brother and sister. 

The South Portland fire and rescue department recognized Mason’s efforts with a ceremony at the station last week. He received a certificate of accomplishment, a small, ceramic firefighter’s helmet and a City of South Portland beach towel. But Mason seemed more impressed with exploring the departments’ big trucks than being called a hero.

Mason said he learned about 911 from watching a television commercial for Life Alert, the medical emergency response system. He can recite the commercial almost verbatim. His father, Michael Mullen, said they had no idea the commercial had such an effect on their son.

“We taught him 911, but he said, ‘Mommy, I was going to call 911, but I didn’t know the number,’” Chrystin Mullen said.

Deputy Martin Toderico said they later learned Mason, who cannot read yet, found the “9” button on the phone by counting.

Mason said he wasn’t scared during the ordeal.

“I knew what to do,” he said. “I was shaking a little bit – but not like my mom – because I was feeling bad.”

Once the paramedics arrived, Mason said he knew everything was going to be okay.

“When they left, I wasn’t shaking anymore,” he said. 

The young hero and his family heard a recording of his 911 call for the first time last week. Mason raises his elbows up by his face, but smiles, when he hears his voice fill the room. 

“Um, my mom passed out,” he said to the dispatcher. “My mom just closed her eyes and just laid on the floor.”

As the call continues, Mason provides the dispatcher with his address and father’s name. 

“I can’t believe how calm he sounded,” Chrystin Mullen said, her eyes watering. “Almost like he had a smile on his face.”

After listening to the call, Mason eagerly climbed into the back of the ambulance, where firefighter and EMT paramedic Chris Swenson, who was one of the responders to the call, pointed out some of the medical equipment.

 “He was standing right there, watching us very intently,” Swenson said of the call. “He seemed very interested in what we were doing. It’s something you definitely don’t see out of a lot of 5-year-olds.”