Three students from MHS became heroes after saving an 81-year-old woman’s life on Nov. 15, around 4:30 p.m. Patricia Zebda, who suffers from Alzheimer’s, was found in a small crevice in a ditch outside of Highland Greens neighborhood. She wandered almost two miles away from her home when it is believed she lost her balance and stumbled into a deep ditch.

What was supposed to be a normal Tuesday afternoon turned in to a dauntless unpredicted evening. Junior Kayla Hughes and Senior Derrick Newman planned to go to junior Michael Millsap’s house to hang out with some friends when they made a random decision to take the ‘back way’ to Millsap’s house. As they walked they came across a body covered in dirt, face down in a foot-deep crevice of the ditch.

“Help” was the word Hughes heard as she looked down and saw the woman, covered in dirt, turn over.

“We were in shock,” said Hughes after hearing the helpless cry. “We didn’t even know she was missing.”

Newman added on saying, “My reaction was ‘what the hell.’ I did not expect it at all.” Newman attempted to lift her out of the ditch himself, but when he tried she said it hurt her wrist. He then ran to Millsap’s house for assistance. The two pulled her out of the ditch and instantly called 911. Zebda complained of being cold, so Millsap ran back to his house to grab her a blanket.

“Apparently she didn’t have a car, and as soon as we got her out of the ditch she spent the whole time looking for her keys,” said Hughes. “She had Derrick and me searching in her pockets for her keys.” The three students sat and comforted her as they waited for the police to arrive.

“I’d like to think that anyone stuck in the same situation would have done the same thing,” said Millsap. “I mean who can look at an 81-year-old lady and just leave her lying there in a ditch? I feel like it was more just the right place at the right time more than a heroic act.” Hughes completely agreed, but was very happy with herself and with her friends for doing what they had done.

Hughes, Millsap, and Newman have not seen Zebda since the incident but are comforted with the fact that she is safe in her own home. The three were thanked at the Huron Valley Board of Education meeting, and the story was featured on Channel 7 News. Zebda’s daughter thanked the three for saving the life of her beautiful 81-year-old mother.