Paying it forward.(heroism act of Kevin Stephan and nurse Penny Brown)

An act of heroism in upstate New York came full circle and paid unexpected dividends recently. The story began seven years ago, when 11-year-old Kevin Stephan of the Buffalo suburb of Lancaster was accidentally hit in the chest with a bat at a little league baseball game. The blow stopped his heart instantly.

But Kevin was very fortunate that day in 1999. A nurse named Penny Brown, who was supposed to work a shift that night, was given the evening off. She decided to watch her son play in the little league game. When young Kevin collapsed, Brown sprang into action and administered CPR on the boy, saving his life. During the years since, Kevin has never forgotten Brown and often wished he had an opportunity to thank her for saving his life.

In February, Penny Brown, the same woman who had saved Kevin seven years ago, was dining out at the Hillview Restaurant in Depew, New York. It so happened that this was the same restaurant where Kevin Stephan worked. Kevin normally would have been in school at two in the afternoon; however, classes were cancelled for school exams and, having the day off, he went to work. Kevin's mother, Lorraine Stephan, was also ...