A mother's moment of terror has been revealed as a miraculous twist of fate, after her toddler's accidental drop of her baby sister led to the discovery of a life-threatening condition that had gone undetected for months.
A Panicked Trip to Hospital
In September 2024, Colorado mother Jewel Hee was busy with laundry when she saw her three-year-old daughter, Harper, trying to pick up her four-month-old sister, Hazel. The 27-year-old raced over, but not before Harper accidentally dropped the infant from about a foot off the ground.
Terrified that Hazel had been seriously injured, Hee rushed her straight to hospital. A full-body X-ray revealed no broken bones, and the family were preparing to leave. However, a nurse then discovered Hazel's oxygen levels were dangerously low, a condition that can eventually lead to brain death.
The Hidden Diagnosis Revealed
Doctors initially suspected a lung infection and prescribed antibiotics, but Hazel's health continued to decline over the following months. It wasn't until May 2025 that an MRI scan provided the shocking answer: Hazel had suffered a perinatal stroke while still in the womb.
Doctors believe the stroke was caused by a blood clot in Hee's placenta. This type of stroke, which cuts off blood supply to a fetus's brain, affects between one in 1,000 and one in 3,000 newborns in the United States and can lead to developmental delays and feeding issues.
'We were completely dumbfounded,' Hee said. 'We were expecting to leave and they told us everything was great. I was very upset... You're telling me my child had a stroke while I was pregnant with her and not a single doctor was able to catch that?'
A Life Saved and a Call for Awareness
The stroke explained Hazel's symptoms: trouble breastfeeding, aspirating milk into her lungs, low birth weight, and reduced muscle tone. A doctor told the family that if the condition had not been found when it was, and Hazel had gone through flu season undiagnosed, they would have lost her.
Hazel now requires oxygen therapy, has developmental delays, wears foot braces, and uses a feeding tube. Hee is eternally grateful for the freak accident that led to the diagnosis. 'My daughter saved Hazel's life,' she said. 'All of our family and friends consider Harper to be Hazel's hero. It was a happy accident in the end.'
Hee is now urging other parents to trust their instincts and push for thorough screening. She emphasises the importance of seeking immediate medical care if anything seems amiss and asking necessary questions during routine appointments. 'If they see anything wrong with their child, don't hesitate to bring them in or get them checked out,' she advised.
