A THREE-year-old girl, a mobile phone and a desperate voicenote made all the difference in saving an Amanzimtoti mother’s life.

Teacher, Trisha Naidoo’s health took a turn earlier this year. “I had missed my menstruation cycle and did a pregnancy test, which returned a negative result. I went to a general practitioner (GP) and did a litany of tests, but nothing showed any evidence of pregnancy. We found out later from scans that it was an ectopic pregnancy, which occurs when a fertilised egg implants outside the uterus. It ruptured internally, causing internal bleeding,” said Naidoo.

Also read: Folweni police lead GBV awareness walk

On October 5, the last day of school holidays, she saw her husband off to work, cleaned their home and got her daughter ready for a breakfast for two at a nearby takeaway.

“I started feeling light-headed and felt the need to throw up. I remember walking to the bathroom and then I passed out,” said Naidoo.

She regained consciousness later that day in the trauma unit of a hospital and was only able to piece together how she ended up at the hospital later that day.

“While I lay unconscious, my little girl somehow managed to unlock my cellphone. She navigated to WhatsApp, found profile pictures of her daddy, Gregory, and her grandmother and sent a voice note to each asking for help. Gregory rushed home and took me to our GP and I was then transported via ambulance to a hospital trauma unit. My three-year-old baby became my little hero. The thought of what could have happened still overwhelms me with emotion. As parents, we spend our days protecting our children, teaching them right from wrong and doing everything possible to keep them safe. We never imagine that one day, even in a small way, they might be the ones who need to help us,” she said.

She explained that while in hospital, she spoke with little Gabriella, who said “Mummy, I love you. Jesus helped me, mum, to be a good baby to help you.”

Children should be taught how to act in an emergency

Naidoo added that Gabriella’s actions taught her a lesson she will carry for the rest of her life.

“Never underestimate what a child can learn, understand or do in a moment of crisis. My experience has inspired me to speak out about something I believe every parent and caregiver should take seriously, teaching children what to do in an emergency. While they cannot be expected to manage a crisis or take responsibility for an adult’s safety, we can teach them a few simple steps that may make a difference. Teach your children how to recognise when someone is seriously unwell. Explain, in words they can understand, that if a parent or caregiver falls down, will not wake up, struggles to breathe or appears very sick, they must get help immediately,” said Naidoo.

She encouraged parents to show their children how to contact a trusted adult and to practise with them to become familiar rather than frightened.

“Children should know their full name, their parents’ names and, as they grow older, their home address. I share this story not to frighten parents, but to encourage them. Emergencies can happen without warning, even in the safety of our own homes. We cannot prepare for every possibility, but we can give our children simple tools that may help them respond. Sometimes, the smallest hands can reach out in the biggest moments,” she concluded.

For more South Coast Sun news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter and get news delivered straight to your inbox.

Do you have more information pertaining to this story? Feel free to let us know by commenting on our Facebook page or you can contact our newsroom on 031 903 2341 and speak to a journalist.