A mother sprang into action on Monday, rescuing a young girl she discovered wandering barefoot across a busy street, ultimately reuniting her with her family.
Jabril Walls was en route to her grandmother’s home in Memphis, Tennessee, after dropping her own kids off at school when she noticed a 3-year-old girl standing in the middle of a bustling intersection.
Without hesitation, Walls parked her car to stop the flow of traffic, allowing her to guide the child safely to the sidewalk.
“I opened my car door, extended my arms, and she ran to me, crying out for her mommy and daddy,” Walls recounted to Fox 13.
Walls spent the morning piecing together the toddler’s limited clues in an effort to locate her home. When her search proved fruitless, she brought the girl to the local fire station and alerted the authorities.
Throughout their time together, Walls captured several videos documenting their journey. In one clip, the little girl can be seen nestled in Walls’ lap, embracing her in the car.
By the end of the day, the girl was reunited with her parents. Walls was lauded as a hero, but shrugged off the praise.
“I just thank God that I was able to be there at that time because not only predators, but it could’ve easily been a car, a dog, or anything. I’m just glad I was able to make the baby feel safe,” she told the outlet.
When Walls’ video of their whirlwind adventure went viral, critics lambasted the toddler’s parents for their supposed negligence. Walls, though, insisted that the child was well-loved and urged the public to do some self-reflection before casting the first stone.
“It takes a village. So I also extended my love to their baby and was able to be her guide. Because it takes a village,” Walls said.
“You never know what a parent is going through, what they need. But I always know that kids need a village to raise a child. You can’t do it on your own. I can’t do it on my own. I have a village for my kids,” she added.
Walls had a playdate with the girl on Wednesday — and was dubbed her unofficial godmother.
“I love that my baby has another person that loves her just as much as myself,” the toddler’s mother wrote on Facebook.
