MAMA'S LITTLE HERO SON, 5, HONORED FOR SAVING LIFE.

Byline: Orith Goldberg Staff Writer

SUNLAND - Firefighters proclaimed 5 1/2-year-old Mark Mooradian a hero Wednesday for the lifesaving actions he took after his mom slipped into diabetic shock the day before Mother's Day.

After finding his mother unresponsive, Mark followed training his father had given him: He tried to give his mother orange juice to revive her, and when that didn't work, he called 911, let an emergency crew into the house and provided information they needed.

``I was just overwhelmed when I realized what he had done,'' said Mark's mother, 48-year-old Suzanne Mooradian of Shadow Hills. ``I could have died.''

Firefighters presented Mark with a special commendation for his actions and fed him a firehouse meal of hot dogs, Cheetos and macaroni and cheese.

But the usually outgoing 50-pound, 52-inch hero - who has dreams of one day being a firefighter or a police officer - appeared overwhelmed by the attention placed on him at a press conference at Los Angeles Fire Station 24 in Sunland, tucking his head into his father's shirt as the media asked him about the incident.

Soon, however, a bright smile emerged on Mark's face when firefighters placed a red fire helmet on his head and took him for a ride on a fire engine, sirens and all.

Los Angeles Firefighter/Emergency Medical Technician Ed Puente, one of four members of the Fire Department to respond to the Mooradians' house in the 10200 block of McBroom Street on May 12, said he was truly impressed with Mark's heroism and pinned a ceremonial fire badge on the boy's yellow shirt.

``He was so grown up and calm, it was like looking at a 30-year-old man this tall,'' Puente said with his hand lowered to Mark's height.

After trying unsuccessfully to revive his mother with orange juice, Mark apparently picked up the phone and called his father's business.

``I could hear some voices, but then (the phone) hung up,'' said the boy's father, 45-year-old Steve Mooradian.

Next, Mark dialed 911 and informed the operator that something was wrong.

As the 911 operator was transferring the call to a fire dispatcher - with the address and location of the call's origination - Mark apparently hung up.

Firefighter dispatcher Ricardo Mena called the boy back and asked a series of questions to gain information for the fire crew. He stayed on the phone until they arrived.

``Anytime you speak to a child, especially a child that young, your heart goes out to them,'' said Mena. ``He was able to answer every question I asked him.''

He also continued to help. Mark apparently opened an electronic gate and let firefighters into the house, obtaining his mother's insurance card from her purse, showing officials her medications and calmly answering questions and helping the personnel fill in information gaps.

``When we found (Suzanne Mooradian), she was basically unconscious,'' Puente said, adding that Mark's assistance sped up their process of helping her tenfold.

``He did a great job and saved her life,'' Puente said. ``I was thinking, 'He must do this every week, he's a pretty sharp little guy.'''

It was a first for the boy, his parents said.

``I was totally shocked,'' Suzanne Mooradian said. ``I was crying because he did this.''

``He was a hero. My biggest fear was that this would happen. When he was young, my husband walked him through it. I'm amazed he remembered it.''

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Photo:

(color) Young hero Mark Mooradian, 5, signals thumbs up before a ride on a firetruck.

David Sprague/Staff Photographer