13-year-old Aurora survivor tried to help others

(CBS News) As the gunman fired into the darkened theater, one of the youngest survivors tried to save the youngest victims.

At a church in Aurora Sunday, pastor Michael Walker told a story of heroism, how a 13-year-old struggled to save the life of 6-year-old Veronica Moser-Sullivan, the youngest person to die.

Pastor Michael Walker: "If you could imagine a 13-year-old giving CPR to a 6-year-old who is dying. It's a tragedy."

That 13-year-old is Kaylan.

"I'm still in shock. I don't think that it's hit me yet what I've been through," Kaylan said.

Kaylan's mother, Heather, asked us not to use their last name. They want privacy to recover, but agreed to share Kaylan's story.

"She was trying everything she could to save another human being," Heather said.

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Kaylan went to the midnight movie with four others, family and friends, including 6-year-old Veronica and Veronica's mother. Then the shooting started.

"It was terrifying, because I couldn't see...I couldn't see the person who had done it," Kaylan said.

"She went to a simple movie with five people and, and three of them got shot," Heather said.

When the shooting stopped, Kaylan tried to give Veronica CPR, but a wounded adult had fallen on top of the 6-year-old.

"I was asking the one on top of the one I was trying to help but they kept saying they couldn't, they were numb and I kept begging please try please because we have to get out of here," Kaylan said.

She kept struggling until the police arrived.

"I love that she thought of somebody else besides herself. That is amazing to me," Heather said.

"It's horrifying picturing in my head what I saw that night," Kaylan said.

Heather says Kaylan didn't get a scratch on her head, "but mentally, she's gonna be dealing with this for a really long time."

Kaylan volunteers to help the homeless. She once shaved off her hair for a cancer drive.

Now Kaylan will get some help. She started grief counseling Sunday.

[John782011]

Young lady you will never understand the violence you saw that night as thise of us not there will not either. But your act of heroism will be remembered by you, your family and thise around you for the rest of your life as that of an innocent trying to help another innocent in a world you have tried to make better. Bless You.

[marine1957]

Bless your heart, Kaylan. You are a fine young lady. Don't let life ever change you from your loving compassion and concern for others. I pray God will bless you even more in your years to come.

[captainems]

As a professional EMT/firefighter, I want to say how proud I am of this young lady. We don't always save the people we attempt to help, but she should have peace knowing she at least attempted to save that child. I salute her.

[rider1956]

People pay to view violence, they love it. More people died across the nation that in that movie house.

[credibility2]

While this child is to be commended, I'm still miffed about responsible and dutiful parents either bringing their children, including infants and toddlers, to this movie and especially at this time. Those parents who did so, are selfish and irresponsible and put their kids in harm's way, with at least one being killed, others injured and all who survived left with permanent emotional and psychological scars. Again, all avoidable.

[bramletabercrombie]

We should be good agoraphobics like you!

[Bojax39]

by credibility2: "While this child is to be commended...."

Well, commend her and then shut up.

Most people go from cradle to grave without ever truly knowing themselves or how they would react in the face of sheer evil.

They sit around and view horror from a distance and tell everybody how THEY would have reacted and how THEY would have done this or that and so on..... and they get "miffed" about things which are none of their damned business in the first place and kick people while they're down.

Irregardless of why she was there, Kaylan acquitted herself more bravely and honorably than many adults would. And she deserves not to be marginalized by the likes of you.

God bless you Kaylan. You conducted yourself well and may you NEVER need to test your metal in such a horrific circumstance again.

[deenicoledee]

Totally agree @credibility2. Who takes children to a rated R, violent movie? I kept hoping to see that the children were in the adjoining theatre and the bullets came through the wall.

[lesserof2evil]

she's still a much better human being than you could ever dream to be.

[alpinequeen]

Heroes indeed walk among us.

[jennirobbins]

Bless this child.

[sammie123456789]

You put a commerical in front of this story? You f#$%^king goons...

[JoeBGud13]

What a brave young lady! Thinking of others instead of herself, that's the true American Way.

Maybe this will help pull this country back together!

I pray that she and her friends who survived find peace and a speedy recovery.

[rwsmith29456]

Indeed.

[MzFaithful]

What a heroic and brave act this young lady did! My thoughts and prayers are with her as she struggles with what happened and what she did to help.

[hypnotoad72]

Seconded!!