A young boy from Loughborough has been hailed a hero after his quick thinking and calm demeanour saved his mother's life when she suffered a sudden and catastrophic medical emergency at home.
A Mother's Sudden Collapse
Hollie Varley-Issitt, 42, was at home with her eight-year-old son Jacob when she was struck down by a severe case of septic shock. The condition occurred after a long-standing stomach ulcer burst, spreading a dangerous infection throughout her body. Hollie, appearing on ITV's This Morning with hosts Dermot O'Leary and Christine Lampard, revealed she has scant memory of the terrifying ordeal.
"I can't remember too much," Hollie explained. "I was okay in the morning, and it got to 9am and I couldn't see, I couldn't stand up... around an hour later I couldn't stand at all. I remember laying on the bed, and I said, 'help'." Her life was hanging in the balance, and her only hope was her young son.
Jacob's Remarkable Calm Under Pressure
What makes Jacob's actions even more extraordinary is that he has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and often struggles with concentration. Despite this, when he found his mother in distress, his focus was absolute. "I woke up at my normal time and I went looking around and I saw her in the living room, and I thought she was uncomfortable," Jacob recalled.
The youngster helped his mother to bed before dialling 999. On the call, played in the This Morning studio, the eight-year-old can be heard giving a clear and precise account to the operator. "I'm eight, the one that's speaking, and my mum is 42 - she is shaking, and she is laying in a lot of pain. She's not even opening her eyes that much and she's in so much pain," he said calmly.
When the call handler praised him, saying, "You're doing amazing," Jacob humbly replied, "I try my best, my speaking is not that good sometimes." He then led paramedics into the house upon their arrival, ensuring they could assist his mother immediately.
Medical Insight: What is Septic Shock?
This Morning's resident doctor, Nighat Arif, detailed the gravity of Hollie's condition. "Jacob absolutely saved Hollie's life," Dr. Arif stated. She explained that the burst ulcer caused intense inflammation in the abdomen, leading to a dramatic drop in blood pressure and the shutdown of vital organs like the kidneys and pancreas—the hallmarks of septic shock.
"Jacob wouldn't have known this but he just knew mum was in pain, and needed to get help," Dr. Arif added, emphasising the critical importance of his swift response.
Recognition and Recovery
Jacob's bravery has not gone unnoticed. Last month, he was honoured by switching on the Christmas lights in his hometown of Loughborough. During the TV interview, hosts Dermot and Christine surprised the young Leicester City fan with tickets to see his favourite football team play.
Hollie, who is still recovering from complications related to her medication, confirmed she is "on the mend" thanks entirely to her son's actions. The emotional mother recounted how Jacob comforted her during the crisis, telling her, "I love you, I don't like seeing this, mummy, but everything is going to be okay."
Viewers of the show took to social media to praise Jacob, with one calling him a "clever and brave little boy" and another simply writing, "Well done Jacob, brave boy!"
