9-Year-Old Who Saved Mom's Life Flips Switch On Aurora Christmas Tree

AURORA, IL — A 9-year-old girl who saved her mom's life by making a heroic 911 call earlier this year did the honors of flipping the switch to light Aurora's Christmas tree at the Aurora Winter Lights Parade Nov. 17.

Aria Lamen joined Mayor Richard Irvin to officially light the tree during the annual event that kicks off the holiday season in Illinois's second-largest city.

"It is fitting for Aria [Lamen] to light our tree this year because she is such an inspiring light in our community," city officials said.

Lamen was first commended for her bravery in March when the Aurora City Council honored the Girl Scout at one of its regular meetings.

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Her 911 call came in on a cold night in February, when Aria and her mom, Caron, were home alone. Aria was doing her homework and talking to her mom, when she suddenly passed out.

After first calling her dad, Aria called 911 and "calmly explained the situation ... as she kept a watchful eye on her mom," said Clayton Muhammad, the city's chief communications officer.

"She handled herself better than most adults would," Traci Whalen, a 911 dispatcher who has served 30 years in Aurora, said in a statement at the time. "It was one of the best calls in my career."