Maple Street looked peaceful as children played nearby, but inside a modest home, an emergency was unfolding. Officer José López approached the house after a 911 call from an 8-year-old girl named Liliana. Dispatcher Vanessa had warned him it could be serious. When Liliana opened the door, fear and relief filled her eyes. She clutched the phone, trembling. Officer López immediately noticed her swollen stomach—an alarming sign something was wrong. He knelt beside her and spoke gently.
“Where does it hurt?” he asked. “My stomach,” she whispered. “It’s so big… and it hurts all the time.” Without hesitation, he called for paramedics and stayed with her, keeping her calm. Vanessa remained on the line, sensing this was more than a medical emergency. Child protective services were alerted.
