[Times photo: Andrea Bruce Woodall]
Eleven-year-old Adam Dzedzy hangs out in his room with sister Devin whom he pulled from the family pool when he was 9 and she was 3.

By PAMELA DAVIS

Adam Dzedzy was scared when he saw his sister fall into the pool, but he didn't let fear stop him from helping her. He's one of many honored in a Kids Are Heroes contest.

It happened more than a year ago, but the memory of the incident is still fresh in his mind.

When Adam Dzedzy saw his little sister fall into his family's backyard pool he leapt into action. With adrenalin racing through him, he pulled her tiny body out of the water.

"It felt like she didn't weigh anything because I was so scared," Adam said.

Once she was out of the pool, Adam's dad dialed 911, and soon 3-year-old Devin was being treated by paramedics.

During the ordeal, "Things were rushing through my mind," said Adam, who was 9 at the time. "I didn't know what was going to happen. I was really scared. I wanted to see her grow up and have a good life."

The paramedics credited Adam with saving his sister's life. His quick thinking and brave actions were the reasons.

Earlier this week, Adam, now 11, was honored for his heroic deed by winning first place in the 9- to 12-year-old category of the Kids Are Heroes contest sponsored by Tampa Children's Hospital at St. Joseph's.

The contest recognizes young people in Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando and Polk counties ages 5 to 18 who performed heroic deeds or unselfish acts.

Adam, who lives in Palm Harbor and is in the sixth grade at Tarpon Springs Middle School, said being called a hero feels great.

"But it's not something you expect to happen," he says. "There's a hero in everybody. It's just that some people don't use it."

Nomination forms were received in September, and patients at Tampa Children's Hospital selected the winners last month.

Tampa Bay Buccaneer cornerback Donnie Abraham, spokesman for this year's Kids Are Heroes contest, attended the contest kickoff at St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa, where he hung out with a group of kids as they learned CPR techniques.

Abraham was also on hand when the Tampa Children's Hospital patients judged the hero nominations, and he attended the awards banquet last Monday.

"These kids actually did some stuff that adults couldn't do or would panic in certain situations," Abraham said. "They somehow managed to stay cool and do these heroic things."

Abraham learned a lot about young people through his involvement with the contest.

"You learn that kids are stronger than we think they are," he said. "They are smarter than we give them credit for."

Other winners of this year's Kids are Heroes contest are:

5- to 8-year-old category

First place, Sarah Parsi of Valrico
First runner-up, Justin Miner of New Port Richey
Second runner-up (tie), Andrea Pittman of Spring Hill
Second runner-up (tie), Melissa Marie Rubino of Hernando Beach

9- to 12-year-old category

First place, Adam Dzedzy of Palm Harbor
First runner-up Courtney Demmi, of Tampa
Second runner-up Brittani Diggett, of Brooksville

13- to 18-year-old category

First place, Troy Hibbard of Brooksville
First runner-up, Mario Mannelli of Port Richey
Second runner-up, Saeed Karim of Tampa

Other awards

Family of Heroes awards were given to siblings Jacob, Sara and Kala Sampson of Tampa.
Service awards were given to Christopher Todd Shelton of Tampa and Jennifer Sasso of Tampa.

Hair Razor awards (for donating their hair to be made into wigs for children undergoing chemotherapy) were given to Molly Fendrick of Tampa, Alyssa Andrade of Lakeland, Summer Goodson of Highland City, Gabrielle Miller of Holiday, Jennifer Oliver of Tampa, Sasha Annetta Rodriquez of Tampa, Tiffany Rose Bedard of Brandon and Blair Allison Hebner of Lakeland.

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