Grace Maceda '29: Calm, Courage, CPR

Freshman Grace Maceda Turns a Day Off into a Life-Saving Moment

What began as a relaxed day off from Bishop Kenny High School in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day quickly became a moment Grace Maceda will never forget, and one her neighbor will forever be grateful for.

With her parents out of town for the weekend, Grace spent the holiday with her grandfather, who was watching her and her two younger siblings. The family made the most of the day with a trip to the movies followed by lunch. After returning home, Grace took their dog, Lady, for a walk around the neighborhood, unaware that just moments later she would be called to action.

As Grace turned the corner near her house, she noticed a woman lying in the roadway. Recognizing her as a neighbor, Grace immediately ran to her side and checked for a pulse. Finding it very weak, Grace quickly called her grandfather and then dialed 911. Following the dispatcher’s instructions, she turned the woman over and checked again—but this time, she couldn’t find a pulse.

Without hesitation, Grace began chest compressions as instructed by the 911 operator. She calmly and steadily performed CPR for nearly five minutes until police arrived and took over. Grace remained there until fire and rescue personnel arrived before finally heading home.

Remarkably, Grace learned CPR years earlier from her mother while she was still in fifth grade, never imagining she would one day need to use it in a real-life emergency. “I’m thankful that my mom trained me because you never know when you might need to use it to save another person’s life,” Grace shared. “I really want to encourage everyone to learn CPR. You are never too young or too old.”

Throughout the intense moments, Grace leaned on her faith. She shared that she prayed continuously while performing CPR, asking God to give her strength and to save her neighbor’s life. Her prayers were answered; she saved a life. Her neighbor is showing improvement but remains hospitalized and will hopefully be able to return home soon.

A freshman at Bishop Kenny, Grace exemplifies quiet leadership and service both in and out of the classroom. She is an active and dedicated student, serving as a freshman cadet in the NJROTC and a member of the marksmanship team. She is also involved in several service- and faith-based clubs on campus, including Virtue 31 Prayer Club, Kenny Angels, and Anchor Club.

Grace Maceda’s courage, preparedness, and faith turned an ordinary day off into an extraordinary act of heroism—one that reflects the heart of Bishop Kenny High School and serves as a powerful reminder that God can use anyone, at any age, to make a life-saving difference.