Norfolk, Va. - Before Harry Watkins retired from the Norfolk Police Department, his fellow officers called him "Lucky." He always seemed to be in the right place at the right time. May 18th, 1991 was one of those times.
That day, he saved Kodie Ferro's life. She was just four and a half months old.
Her mom Bunnie recalls every single detail.
“She was purple,” she says. “We were at the fair and I was walking down the sidewalk and she was on a heart monitor. She had sleep apnea.”
It was at the intersection of Oceanview Avenue and Duffy's Lane where Officer Watkins made eye contact with Bunnie and instantly knew something was wrong.
“She looked at me and I looked at her,” he says. “Eye contact. You understand what I’m saying? She just started screaming.”
Without hesitation, Watkins took action. Kodie had stopped breathing and Watkins gave her CPR.
24 years later, now a woman, Kodie flew to Norfolk from Ohio to reunite with her hero.
“I feel like I’ve been connected to him for 24 years and I’ve just never met him,” she says.
After all this time, even apart their bond has stayed strong.
All thanks to Lucky Harry.
“Everyone knows about Harry,” Bunnie says. “Harry`s always been a part of our life even though he wasn`t there he`s been in our hearts. He`s always been a part our lives because we have Kodie`s.”
“It means everything to me,” Kodie says. “24 years. I mean there`s really no way to describe the way that I feel. I`m so grateful and thankful for you.”
