A little superstar from Ivybridge has been named a local hero after saving her mother’s life after suffering a medical episode at home during the early hours. On April 22, six-year old Laila Williams was tucked up in bed when she was woken up to the sound of her mum, Claire, in serious pain.
The two of them were home alone, at around 1am, after spending a fun-filled day at Pennywell Farm. Laila rushed to her mother’s aid to find her unable to move and projectile vomiting. Claire, who is originally from Kingsbridge, said she has suffered complications with her bowel for a significant period of time, after it became attached to her uterus as a result of a previous medical episode.
Claire explained her daughter knows she had been unwell, but has never had to take action before. Thankfully Claire had spoken to her daughter about what could happen if there was an emergency.
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She said: “Laila knows I’ve been in and out of hospital for surgery on my bowels – as a result of a previous medical episode – but we’ve never had an emergency situation like that. Weirdly, we’ve never had a conversation about what she would do if I suffered a medical episode.
“But, in this case off her own back she went into this mode where she knew she had to be brave and help. She was really frightened but she cracked on and did it, I’m just super proud of her.”
She says that during that frightful day she suffered mild pain in her stomach, which at the time wasn’t a cause for concern. Claire continued: “I was in a lot of pain in my stomach which is nothing new for me, it was worse than normal but nothing unusual. I didn’t realise the severity of the situation.
“It was just the two of us at home as my partner was out. I put her to bed, and as the night progressed I was in a lot more pain. It got to the point where I physically couldn’t move due to the pain and I was projectile vomiting.
“It was horrible. I was trying to keep quiet but clearly I had woken her up. She came in and said ‘what’s the matter, mummy?’
© Claire Williams Laila Williams
“I said to her I’m not very well and she needs to go and get my phone and call my mum, her nana.” Incredible Laila retrieved Claire’s phone and managed to get hold of her nana, instructing her that she thinks her mum needed an ambulance.
Claire said: “She told her what had happened and said ‘I think we need an ambulance’. I don’t know where she got that from, bless her, but she just knew. So, my mum phoned the ambulance and drove over. I was speaking with Laila and trying to be strong for her.”
When the ambulance crew – and Laila’s grandma – arrived, Claire told Laila she needed to unlock the door, however she couldn’t reach the chain. Claire said: “I said to her ‘Laila, you need to be brave and listen to mummy. I need you to go downstairs to try and unlock the door and let nana and the paramedics in’.
“She went down but she couldn’t reach the chain on the door. She came back up and said ‘mummy I’ve tried and I can’t reach what shall I do?’
“I told her to try the back door and she managed to let them in. She came back up and said ‘mummy I’ve done it, I’ve done it’. I could see on her little face she was so frightened and I told her I will be fine but she just needs to listen. She was so brave. I can’t imagine being in that situation at six-years old, she was incredible.
“The paramedics put me in the ambulance and just as they were about to shut the doors Laila came running over in her little nighty and said ‘bye mummy, you’ll be okay, I love you’.
“She went down but she couldn’t reach the chain on the door. She came back up and said ‘mummy I’ve tried and I can’t reach what shall I do?’
© Claire Williams Laila has been named a ‘Local Morrisons Hero’ as part of Kingsbridge Morrisons as part ‘Local Morrisons Heroes’
“I told her to try the back door and managed to let them in. She came back up and said ‘mummy I’ve done it, I’ve done it’. I could see on her little face she was so frightened and I told her I will be fine but she just needs to listen. She was so brave. I can’t imagine being in that situation at six-years old, she was incredible.
“The paramedics put me in the ambulance and just as they were about to shut the doors Laila came running over in her little nighty and said ‘bye mummy, you’ll be okay, I love you.’
Laila then went to stay at her nana’s house and Claire was rushed into the operating theatre. She added: “I feel incredibly blessed that she is my daughter. I am so, so proud of her and she is an exceptional human. I’m in awe of her, she’s a brave young lady and will forever be my little hero.”
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