Mothers are teachers, protectors, entertainers, guides, coaches, and caregivers. They provide their little ones with the knowledge and skills they need to develop into happy, functional adults. Sometimes we just don’t know how to adequately thank our mothers for all that they do because, really, there’s not a way we truly can.
While it’s a mother’s duty to care for their offspring from when they are little to when they are fully grown, there comes a time where we have to care for them. But it’s not just about caring for them when they reach their later years, it’s also about caring for them while they are still young. It’s about making chicken noodle soup for them when they have a bad cold, giving them a pep talk after a stressful day, or even cleaning up around the house for them when they’re too tired. Nevertheless, care should be mutual.
7-year-old Laura Dinsdale of Benicia, California is like any other second-grade girl. She loves stuffed animals, she loves to draw, and she enjoys the company of her pets, especially since both of her mothers are vet technicians. Additionally, like most girls her age, she also loves her parents and would do anything to ensure they’re okay.
While her mother Heather was at work one evening, Laura was casually watching television with her mother Julie when something began to happen. Her mother would not respond to her. “We were watching a show on the television and then she just started to have a seizure,” explains the 7-year-old.
The first thing Laura did was call 9-1-1.
Dispatcher: 9-1-1, what’s your emergency?
Laura: My mom is having a seizure.
“It was early in the shift. I work night shift, so I had just started. I could tell right away it was a little girl,” says veteran dispatcher of 21 years, Michelle Foley. Although she could tell the person on the other end was a young girl, she was much calmer than most adults calling in: “It was as if somebody already told her if this happens, this is what you should do.”
Dispatcher: Has she ever had a seizure before?
Laura: Yeah two or three. Yeah, actually three.
According to Michelle, Laura already understood what to do in this situation, including putting Beans, the family border collie away before the paramedics arrived.
Little Laura also gave Momma Julie some words of encouragement until someone arrived: “Momma, you’re okay, momma. I’m Laura. I’m your daughter. Momma, you are at the house. We were watching ‘Bob’s Burgers,’ Momma. Momma, you’re okay. You know who I am; I’m your daughter. The cops are coming. They’re coming, so you can go to the hospital. Momma, okay, you just had a seizure.”
“Listening to her talk to her mom, it was the most–it just got to me. It just broke my heart. I was just like, wow, you could hear it in her voice. The love was there. It was amazing,” responds Michelle who was still on the line with the girl.
Upon the arrival of the firefighters, Laura directed them to the right house when they accidentally went next door first. After Julie was put in the ambulance, Heather was called regarding the situation.
“Normally I would have thought [Laura] would have called me, and said, ‘Hey, this happened. What do I do?’ [but] she handled that. I was like, man, you handled that,” says Heather in shock.
The dispatcher was also stunned by the 7-year-old’s ability to keep cool, calm, and collected during the emergency. Michelle had her partner listen to the call later on. Benicia Police Chief, Erik Upson, also listened to the call and came to Laura’s school to present her with an award.
“Good job. Excellent job. We’re proud of you,” Officer Upson says with a smile.
Fortunately, Julie is out of the hospital and is doing well.
Because this seizure wasn’t Julie’s first, it’s possible she may have another one in the future. But according to Laura, she’s got this, and we know she’s got this too.
Here’s a big round of applause for Laura!
Watch the video below to unravel more of the news story. Laura has good judgment, do you agree?
