March 25th 2024.
Ashleigh sat down next to her daughter Maisie and let out a heavy sigh. It had been a long day of gardening and both of them were exhausted. As Maisie set plates of curry and rice on the table in front of them, Ashleigh couldn't help but feel grateful for the delicious meal.
It was September 2021 and the mother-daughter duo had spent the entire day tending to their garden. Now, with Maisie's four-year-old son Myles quietly watching TV, they could finally relax and unwind. But just as they started to enjoy their meal, Maisie suddenly fell back onto the sofa, her eyes rolling back in her head and making a strange snorting sound.
Ashleigh's heart raced with fear as she watched her daughter, wondering if she was choking. Without hesitation, she shouted for help and tried to clear Maisie's airway. As a healthcare assistant, Ashleigh had received first aid training and knew she needed to act fast. But her daughter's mouth was clamped shut, making it difficult to help her.
In a moment of panic, Ashleigh called 999 and explained the situation to the operator. She was instructed to check Maisie's pulse, but there was none. Maisie had also stopped breathing. The operator told Ashleigh that she needed to give chest compressions, but Ashleigh was hesitant. It was one thing to practice on a dummy, but it was a completely different situation when it was her own daughter's life at stake.
Despite her fears, Ashleigh knew she was the only one who could save Maisie. She carefully positioned herself next to her daughter, placed her hands on her chest, and began compressions with all her strength. In the midst of the chaos, Myles was crying and asking if his mommy was dying. Ashleigh wanted to comfort him, but her main focus was on saving Maisie.
After what felt like an eternity, the paramedics arrived and took over. Ashleigh was relieved to have their professional help, but she couldn't help but feel anxious as she waited for news about her daughter's condition. Maisie was rushed to the hospital, where doctors worked tirelessly to stabilize her. They explained that she had a leaky heart valve, which had caused her to have a sudden cardiac arrest.
Ashleigh was frustrated because Maisie had been diagnosed with the condition two years prior, but doctors had dismissed the need for treatment. The day she collapsed, she had complained of her heart beating fast. It took over an hour for the paramedics to stabilize Maisie, and she was put in an induced coma to protect her brain. Ashleigh's worst fear was that her daughter may have suffered brain damage.
Thankfully, Maisie pulled through and was eventually brought out of the coma. She had a long road to recovery, but she was alive. Ashleigh couldn't help but feel grateful that she had learned CPR and was able to save her daughter's life. Maisie was also thankful and expressed her gratitude to her mother for being there for her.
After the incident, Maisie underwent a procedure called ablation to correct her heart rhythm. She also had a defibrillator implanted to shock her heart if needed. It was a difficult time for the family as they processed the trauma of what had happened. They couldn't believe that a simple takeaway meal had turned into such a life-threatening situation.
Ashleigh and Maisie both urge everyone to learn CPR. They believe that it could make a difference in saving someone's life, just like it did for Maisie. The British Heart Foundation offers a free online course called ReViVr, and Ashleigh encourages everyone to take just 15 minutes to learn this lifesaving skill. After all, 80% of cardiac arrests happen at home, and knowing CPR could make all the difference.
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