Colorado Mother’s Quick Action Saves Infant’s Life

A mother in Colorado experienced a moment of panic when her toddler accidentally dropped her baby sister. Surprisingly, this incident ended up saving the infant’s life.

In September 2024, Jewel Hee was doing laundry when she noticed her three-year-old daughter, Harper, trying to lift four-month-old baby Hazel. Before Jewel could intervene, Harper accidentally dropped Hazel from about a foot high.

Worried about the potential injuries Hazel might have sustained, Jewel rushed her to the hospital. Thankfully, a full-body X-ray showed no broken bones. But just as they were about to leave, a nurse discovered that Hazel’s oxygen levels were dangerously low, a condition that could lead to brain damage.

Doctors suspected that Hazel might have a lung infection and prescribed antibiotics, but her condition worsened over the upcoming months. Then, in May 2025, an MRI revealed that Hazel had suffered a stroke while still in the womb. Jewel remarked that this might never have been found if not for the accident that brought them to the hospital.

“My daughter saved Hazel’s life,” Jewel said. “Everyone in our family believes that Harper is Hazel’s hero. It turned out to be a fortunate accident.” She referred to it as a kind of divine intervention.

Healthcare professionals determined the stroke was likely caused by a blood clot in Jewel’s placenta, a crucial organ during pregnancy. Jewel expressed her astonishment: “We expected everything to be fine, and then they told us there was a serious issue. It was shocking.” She couldn’t fathom why this hadn’t been detected earlier, as Hazel had undergone numerous screenings during pregnancy.

She said, “Learning that my child had a stroke while I was pregnant and no doctor noticed was difficult to handle.” A perinatal stroke can restrict blood flow to a fetus’s brain, resulting in developmental delays and feeding problems. It affects about one in 1,000 to one in 3,000 newborns in the U.S.

As a result of the stroke, Hazel struggled with breastfeeding and often aspirated milk into her lungs rather than her stomach, contributing to her oxygen issues. She was born at a low weight and exhibited reduced muscle tone, complicating her movements.

Jewel was initially calm, as doctors hadn’t expressed any concerns. “Typically, if oxygen levels drop, symptoms like blue lips appear, but she didn’t show any signs,” Jewel noted. A doctor later mentioned that had they not discovered this issue promptly, especially during flu season, it might have turned fatal.

Now, Hazel receives oxygen therapy, faces developmental delays, and relies on a feeding tube, along with braces for her feet to help her strength.

While Jewel is thankful that Harper inadvertently saved Hazel’s life, she emphasizes the need for parents to pursue medical help if something feels off. She advocates for more thorough screenings at doctor’s appointments.

“I am eternally grateful. I thank God every day that we discovered this early,” Jewel said. “Had it been caught sooner, Hazel wouldn’t need nearly as many interventions.” She urges parents to ask questions during routine check-ups and to seek care immediately if they sense something is wrong with their child.