Every parent’s nightmare became reality for Lara when her phone lit up with her son’s terrified whisper. Six-year-old Ben described watching their babysitter collapse – “her eyes were open but not normal” – sending Lara into a panicked race home.
What she discovered was both heartbreaking and awe-inspiring. Ben had transformed his fear into action, attempting first aid while hiding in the closet to call for help. His trauma ran deeper than the current crisis though; this was the second time he’d witnessed someone he loved fall unconscious. The first had been his father’s fatal heart attack two years earlier.
As paramedics treated Ruby (who recovered from severe dehydration), Lara faced a new challenge – helping her son process events no child should experience. Their late-night ice cream picnic wasn’t just a treat; it was medicine for a little boy who’d aged years in one afternoon.
