Motherly Help for a Stranger

Northwood resident Cathy Petrilla wasn’t bothered by the call from a stranger. What alarmed her was the distressed voice coming from the young man on the other end of the line, who apparently had dialed the wrong number.

When he told her he was looking for his mom and that he was sick and needed to go to the hospital, Petrilla, a mother of five, did what she could to help. She first asked for his name and address, but did not get a response. She then hung up and called 911 for help.

Irvine police dispatcher Carol Fleischer told Petrilla to stay on the line so the phone company could trace the last incoming call to her number that morning of Dec. 12. They located the young man within minutes, and he informed them that he was on his way to the hospital, said Lt. Sam Allevato.

Petrilla said her maternal instincts kicked in when she knew the young man was in trouble. “My big concern was that I didn’t want his only phone call he was capable of making going on deaf ears,” said Petrilla, a 21-year resident of Irvine. She praised Fleischer for her quick thinking in tracing the call. “In this day and age where people do not want to get involved, I am surprised that Ms. Petrilla reached out to help this complete stranger,” Fleischer said. Police did not identify the young man, who was treated at a hospital for flu-like symptoms.

In recognition of her efforts to help the young man, Mimi’s Cafe recently presented Petrilla with the restaurant’s All-American Hero Award and treated her and her family to brunch.