Molly Stewart made a call to NSW Ambulance when she sensed that something was wrong with her mother Sue Stewart. Sue was taken for testing and transferred to Canberra to undergo surgery on an aneurysm. Sue was clipping the family dog Camilla when she began to feel unwell.
Sue Stewart was clipping her dog Camilla just over a week ago on Saturday. She said, “I felt as if somebody had put a red hot poker knife between my eye and my ear. I called Mort and he came and helped me inside. I got Molly to bed and I went and lay down and the pain all night was unbelievable. I thought it was a migraine but I didn’t know. I’ve never had a migraine and I thought that might have been what it was.”
The following morning Sue rang the Doctors surgery in Harden and made an appointment to see Doctor Ali on Sunday morning. She continued to feel unwell. Sue was told that Doctor Ali’s schedule was full and that she could come up to the Doctors surgery. If the Doctor couldn’t see her then, she would as soon as possible at the hospital.
Sue and Mort’s daughter Molly, sensed that something wasn’t right with her mother.
A short time went by before Sue received a call from NSW Ambulance, asking if she could assist with directions to the property. As the conversation continued Sue heard a knock on the door from
Ambulance staff.
Sue said, “What has happened.” Craig from the Ambulance said, “Molly called us. She said her mum’s head hurt. She gave us her name and phone number and street address and that she needs NSW Ambulance.”
Without Sue knowing, Molly had sped the process up for Sue to receive medical treatment. Molly’s intuitiveness and connection to her mother resulted in Sue being fast tracked to the Murrumburrah-Harden Hospital.
Sue saw Doctor Ali as soon as the ambulance arrived. Sue said, “Doctor Ali said, ‘I think you have either had a bleed on the brain or you have a
blockage in your main artery leading to your brain.’ They sent me to Young for a CT scan.”
Sue was sent back to Harden to be transferred to Canberra.
The tests found 2 aneurysms in her brain. One had burst causing the pain and another on the other side was still intact.
Within hours she had undergone an operation on the aneurysm to stabilise it. Sue will find out if she will be operated on for the second aneurysm.
Sue spent a week in hospital after the initial aneurysm before returning home on Saturday.
She spoke with Ambulance staff who said, “We don’t know how you haven’t had a stroke or lost vision, hearing or speech.”
Molly attends school at Elouera Cootamundra and has just turned 18. She suffers from a number of conditions which makes her ability to do what she did amazing. She rarely answers the phone at home but Sunday last week she did what needed to be done for Sue. Molly has Spina Bifida, Severe Autism and Developmental Delay.
Sue said, “It’s pretty big thing for her to actually speak to someone she doesn’t know. If the phone rings she will pick it up sometimes and say wrong number. Molly doesn’t talk on the phone.”
Molly said, “I rang triple 000. I thought she had a migraine.” The call centre connected Molly to the Ambulance where Molly told the call receiver, “Something is wrong with Mum. She has a
migraine.”
Molly was able to tell the receiver her name, address and phone number which gave the ambulance staff the information needed to find the property and attend to Sue. Without Molly’s intervention to speed the process up, Sue may have suffered further complications from her aneurysms.
The community of Harden Murrumburrah quickly banded around the much loved family.
Sue said, “Everyone has been amazing. Food has come flooding in. Snacks and cakes and slices. Meals cooked. People have been unbelievable.”
Molly’s name has been mentioned for an award, with all of the Harden Doctors hoping that she will be recognised for what she did. Brian Farnsworth spent over 18 years in the Harden SES and also believes that Molly deserves recognition.
Molly Stewart is an extraordinary young lady who knew something wasn’t right with her mother on that Sunday morning. She took herself out of her comfort zone to do something that made a real difference in her mother’s life. She should be commended for her actions. Well done Molly.
