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Anthony Ruelas, 15, of Killeen, Texas, listens as his mother, Mandy Cortes, talks about his school suspension. Ruelas was suspended for two days after leaving class to carry a classmate having an asthma attack to the school nurse's office. (KCEN-TV)

A Texas teen was suspended this week for helping out a fellow classmate suffering from an asthma attack.

It was not the first time that Anthony Ruelas, a 15-year-old student at the Killeen Independent School District's alternative school, had been suspended, he and his mother told news station KCEN-TV. Tuesday's suspension was different, though.

Ruelas admits he broke the rules by walking out of class that day. The reason? He carried a girl having an asthma attack to the nurse's office.

"I was like, what? I'm suspended for this? Like, I was trying to help her," Ruelas told the TV station.

Ruelas' teacher was awaiting an email from the school nurse and had told the students to remain seated and calm. After several minutes of watching and listening to his classmate wheezing and coughing, however, Ruelas' concern outweighed the rules.

Ruelas' referral form from his teacher read, in her handwriting:

"During 5th period another student complained that she couldn't breathe and was having an asthma attack. As I waited for a response from the nurse the student fell out of her chair to the floor. Anthony proceeded to go over and pick her up, saying 'f--k that we ain't got time to wait for no email from the nurse.' He walks out of class and carries the other student to the nurse."

Ruelas' mother, Mandy Cortes, was initially angry with her son for getting suspended. When she found out why he'd walked out of class, however, she began defending him.

"He may not follow instructions all the time, but he does have a great heart," Cortes told the news station.

Killeen ISD's superintendent, John Craft, released a statement Wednesday in response to the incident:

"The district is unable to provide details related to the matter as it pertains to information involving student discipline and/or health records. In an effort to

protect students' rights to confidentiality granted under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, the details of the investigation and/or disciplinary actions may not be provided by the district at this time. The Killeen ISD maintains the safety of our students, staff and campuses as a priority and applauds the efforts of students who act in good faith to assist others in times of need."

Ruelas, who received a two-day suspension, got a text from the girl Wednesday, thanking him and telling him she was doing all right.

Cortes also got a phone call from the school on Wednesday - asking her why her son was absent. The mother said she had to remind the administration that they'd suspended her son.

Ruelas was allowed to return to school Thursday, but his mother is considering home-schooling him instead, the news station reported.