Hero daughter comes to mothers rescue during stroke

Ashlyn triggers alarm and waits for ambulance

“SHE’S my little hero” – those were the words of a proud Newbury mother whose daughter rescued her during a stroke.

Ashlyn Honey suffers from a rare genetic disorder and doctors once feared she may never recognise mum Chris.

But Ashlyn proved them wrong.

Mrs Honey collapsed at her home in Gloucester Road after suffering a mini stroke, or transient ischemic attack, on Tuesday last week.

While Mrs Honey lay unconscious for 25 minutes, Ashlyn triggered an alarm, spoke to her brother Stuart and then walked into the street to direct the ambulance.

Ashlyn, aged 48, has Prader-Willi syndrome, a rare genetic condition affecting a specific chromosome. Symptoms vary and can lead to learning difficulties, restricted growth and reduced muscle tone.

Mrs Honey, aged 71, said that Ashlyn had very weak muscles and cannot read or write.

“They told me she wouldn’t walk or talk or probably never recognise me. Now she’s chatting away,” Mrs Honey said.

After Mrs Honey suffered a stroke in April an alarm was installed at the family home. Ashlyn was told how to use the system but Mrs Honey said that “you never know whether the information has gone in with Ashlyn”.

Speaking to the Newbury Weekly News, Ashlyn said she acted after recognising the signs of her beloved mother, who is her full-time carer, suffering a stroke.

“She wasn’t speaking very well and her arm dropped. That’s how I knew the sign; that’s why I pressed the button,”Ashlyn said.

Ashlyn said she loved her mum and that she liked being called a hero.

Mrs Honey said that she was astonished as she had no idea that her daughter could have acted how she did.

“She didn’t actually save my life but I couldn’t believe that she had done that. I would have thought she would have burst into tears and flapped. It wouldn’t be such a big thing if she didn’t have the learning difficulties but she kept it all together.

“Everybody has just said it’s such a boon that we know that she knows what to do in another emergency. I hope there’s not another one.

“I’m very proud of her because she has quite severe learning difficulties. She’s always giggling she’s a very happy girl. She’s done very well and we are all proud of her.

“She’s my little hero at the moment.”

As well as remembering how to act during the emergency, Mrs Honey said that Ashlyn had also taken note of the FAST stroke campaign on television. The campaign urges people to look for signs of a stroke in the face, arms and speech before calling 999.

The bond between mother and daughter goes deeper as they celebrate their birthdays on New Year’s Eve.

Mrs Honey’s friend, Bee Wilson, said: “This is such a wonderful story of a doting daughter who saved her mother’s life. She’s a lovely girl and she deserves much praise.”

The South Central Ambulance Service area manager for Berkshire, Paul Jefferies, said: “I would like to commend Ashlyn on her quick thinking and calm approach which ensured her mother got the help she needed as quickly as possible.

"She is a true hero and on behalf of the team at South Central Ambulance Service who came to her mother’s aid I would like to thank Ashlyn for her brave actions.”