Racine first graders hailed as heroes for helping teacher who had stroke during class

RACINE, Wis. (CBS 58) — Some local first-graders are being hailed as heroes after saving their teacher's life during a medical emergency.

A ceremony was held Monday, June 2, at Gilmore Fine Arts school in Racine, recognizing the superheroes that helped a first-grade teacher when she had a stroke in the classroom.

It happened in the morning of May 6. Angela Zurawski was teaching reading, when she suddenly dropped her laptop and fell to the ground.

Her first-graders jumped up to get help, but Zurawski says she was feeling confused, and she told them not to leave.

Thankfully in this case, they didn't listen, and four students ran out to get another teacher.

School staff called 911, and the Racine Fire Department took Zurawski to Ascension All Saints Hospital where she was given medication for the blood clot.

She was then flown via Flight for Life to the stroke center at Ascension Columbia St. Mary's where she received a mechanical thrombectomy.

Zurawski was awake and in recovery after just a few hours.

Along with all of those first responders, she believes her students helped save her life.

"I was scared for them, because it was a sad thing and a scary thing to witness. They didn't understand, I didn't understand. They just knew something was wrong," Zurawski told CBS 58. "I'm very grateful to all of them for not listening to their teacher -- that one time."

At Monday's ceremony, everyone that helped Mrs. Zurawski received certificates for their quick actions, and they all wore superhero masks.

The kids also got a special tour of a Flight for Life helicopter right outside of their school, along with a Racine fire truck and an ambulance.

While they're still running some tests to find out what caused the stroke, Mrs. Zurawski said she's feeling great and is back to work at school.