A Covington Police officer is honored for saving the life of a four-month old baby. Baby Jase Mitchell wasn't breathing when Officer Matt Hugenberg arrived at his mother's home last month. Hugenberg performed CPR and got the baby to take a breath just before ambulances arrived.
On Tuesday, Officer Hugenberg received an award and recognition for his actions from the Covington City Commission. He also had an emotional reunion with Jase and his mother, Jennifer Totten. Click on the video link to see the story from Local 12's Paula Toti.
Local 12's Angenette Levy also spoke with Officer Hugenberg the day after he saved Jase Mitchell.
As a Covington Police Officer, Matt Hugenberg goes to work everyday.. not knowing what he will find. Thursday's challenge came early. "I was dispatched to a residence to a child that was not breathing."
When Officer Hugenberg arrived at a home on Vermont Avenue, he found 4 month Jase Mitchell - not breathing. Jase had been born prematurely and had only been home from the hospital for a little more than a week. "It was pretty scary. Pretty scary. The child had no heartbeat, no pulse and I immediately started into CPR and right about the time the ambulance crew arrived on scene, the baby took his own breath. "
Officer Hugenberg has been a police officer for 17 years. He's also a father. "My son was a preemie and he had some lung problems and things like that."
Hugenberg knew how to do infant CPR from his experience with his son and through training as a police officer. He considers this one of the best days in his career. Officer Hugenberg: "This isn't the first time I've performed CPR. Sometimes it doesn't always turn out as good as it did today. Today was great. Exceptional."
Jase is at Children's Hospital in stable condition.
