By LAUREL V WILLIAMS Sunday, July 29 2012

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TISHON (Smurf) camps with his mom in San Fernando yesterday. ...

TISHON “Smurf” Camps, the young hero who brought a vehicle to a halt when his grandfather, Noel Luces, 63, suffered a stroke behind the wheel, has been reunited with mother, Kelly Ann Camps.

When Kelly-Ann Camps returned to the country on July 11, it was the first time in six and a half years Tishon had seen her since he was a baby.

Mother and son were separated when he was just six months old. She migrated to the United States of America ( USA) in search of a better life.

Yesterday was even more special, however, as Tishon celebrated his seventh birthday with his mother at the BMX and Youth National Championship 2012 at Skinner Park, San Fernando, which was held in honour of Luces, a former national cyclist.

Speaking to Sunday Newsday at the event, Camps explained that she went to the United States of America back then to assist with the funeral service of her mother, who had died from cancer, leaving Tishon in the care of her father (Luces). She explained, though, that she did not return home because she also wanted to be there for her family and seek a better life.

“I had younger brothers and sisters over there (USA) and they needed somebody to keep them together and I was there for them. My papers were not fixed so I was not even able to attend my father’s funeral. He (Tishon) was born in the house where dad lived and has been growing up here for the past seven years,” Camps said.

The unemployed mother recalled that when the news of her son’s heroic action was highlighted in Newsday in March, she immediately visited the website and still has all the articles on the event.

Shaking her head, she said in light of her father’s death she would have liked to take Tishon with her back to the USA now that she had secured her US papers.

“But everything is money. It is not like I could say I am taking him to the USA without a visa. I am trying to see what help I can get from family. He and the others are lacking motherly love. I used to send necessities from time to time,” Camps said as she hugged Tishon, who appeared very shy yesterday.

Camps, who also has three other children who are living in Trinidad with relatives, said she is scheduled to return to the USA in September. But she noted that now she has reunited with Tishon, she is afraid if she returns without him it will have a negative impact on him.

She said her daughter, Aaliyah Amora, 10, has written a letter to Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, submitting Tishon’s name for a national award in the sphere of gallantry at this year’s Independence Day celebrations.

“He saved grandpa and I think that is a very brave act. He should be awarded,” she said.

Tishon’s grandfather suffered a stroke while driving along the By-Pass Road in Marabella, San Fernando, in March, on his way to drop off the child at his school. The Second Year pupil, of the Jordan Hill Presbyterian Primary School in Princes Town, took charge of the vehicle, pulled to the side of the roadway and pulled up the handbrakes, thus preventing it from going into a drain. He then flagged down police officers who rushed Luces to the San Fernando General Hospital. Unfortunately, Luces died a few days later at the health institution.