Man Saves 4-Year-Old Boy Left Alone After Mother’s Death

A 4-year-old Buffalo boy who spent two days alone in his home after his mother died was finally rescued by Taijuan Littleton, who works nearby and grew concerned when he could not reach the child’s mother.

Littleton, an employee at a local Rent-A-Center who frequently communicated with Shaleena Hamilton, had been calling the family’s home for days when her son Bryan, 4, finally picked up on Dec. 4 and told Littleton he couldn’t wake his mother up, USA Today reports. Littleton went to the family’s home and found that Hamilton had collapsed.

“He did what we ask everyone to do,” Buffalo Police Lt. Steve Nichols said of Littleton.“And in this case, it’s a little boy who was sitting at home drinking milk and maple syrup for two days, and he may have stayed there longer had Taijuan not showed up at the house.”

The Erie County Legislature will honor Littleton on Thursday.