Super Baxter
Amanda’s new heroic puppy saved her daughter’s life…
Cradling the bundle of yellow fluff, I felt such love for the tiny puppy who was napping peacefully in my warm arms.
From the moment we laid eyes on a new born Baxter, we knew he was a special little puppy. He had the kindest face and cheeky little lopsided walk that instantly melted everyone’s heart.
As he settled into our family, each one of us grew to adore him, especially Olivia, six. ‘Mummy, Baxter wants his nails painted and his hair done too,’ she would often say. ‘I’m sure he doesn’t want that darling. All the boy dogs will laugh at him in the park!’ We had Baxter almost from the day he was born, and the girls, Olivia and Sophie, four, were especially fond of him. Then in November 2015, Olivia’s school rang. She had a fever and needed to be collected. Grabbing my keys and a jacket, I hopped in the car to go and rescue my sick little one.
‘Mummy I don’t feel very well,’ she said as soon as I got to the sick bay of her primary school. Looking at her poor little face, I could tell she really meant it. She was clammy and pale.
‘Come on, poppet. Let’s get you home for some rest and lots of cuddles,’ I said, scooping her up and thanking the school nurse.
Once home, I settled her on our lovely squishy sofa in the living room so I could keep an eye on her.
She fell asleep quickly all snuggled up with her favourite blanket and tucked in for warmth. As she still looked poorly,
I decided to sit on the other sofa to watch over her as she slept.
I made a cuppa and settled down with a spot of afternoon TV.
I hadn’t been sat down long when nine-monthold Baxter started to act very odd. ‘Get down, you daft brush,’ I said, tapping his bum lightly with my hand. He jumped off the sofa but then started moaning, nuzzling his snout into my leg.
Then he jumped up with his paws on Olivia and started whimpering.
I started shouting at him to be quiet because Olivia was sleeping.
But then he went over and looked at her and started moaning and barking again.
The more I was telling him to be quiet, the more agitated he got. Eventually his paws got caught in her blanket and he pulled the covers off of her.
When I went over to put them back on, I realised her face was in the pillow and there was vomit surrounding her face.
‘Olivia!’ I shrieked. I heaved her up on to my lap while Baxter leapt frantically, trying to lick her face. ‘Baxter, no! Get down!’ I tried shooing him off, but he kept leaping back up.
Olivia’s eyes rolled into her head, so I knew from experience she was going into a seizure. Her lips were all blue. I was terrified. Olivia’s suffered from febrile convulsions since the age of two. It’s a common condition and seizures can happen when children have a high fever. But I’d never seen her so out of it. Shaking, I called for an ambulance. I sat outside in the rain as we waited for the ambulance, brushing the rain water through her hair to keep her cool and bring her temperature down.
Finally we were taken to the Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital where she was given blood tests and an IV drip with paracetamol.
She still hadn’t come round and it took five hours before she was conscious again.
When she eventually opened her eyes, the first thing she said was, ‘Mummy, can I have some crisps?’ It was such a relief to hear that little voice again and despite everything it really made me smile. The whole ordeal was really difficult without my husband Stewart, 37, and even harder for him when he found out about it. He works on an oil rig, so he had to travel for 24 hours before he could make it back to be with us. Olivia has always been a huge daddy’s girl. He loves her with all his heart, and when he finally made it home, he wouldn’t let her go for ages. As I was explaining what had happened, I said to Stewart: ‘Baxter saved her life.
He knew something wasn’t right and would not leave her alone. He was amazing!’
After spending the night in hospital, Olivia was allowed home to an eagerly awaiting Baxter.
My neighbour Paul, who’d been in to look after him said: ‘Your dog’s gone crazy.
He’s been jumping from couch to couch worried sick about her since you left.’
As soon as they were reunited, Baxter was so happy to see Olivia alive and well.
His tail was wagging constantly and he refused to leave her side.
And he pretty much hasn’t left her side since.
He even sleeps next to her now and waits at the window for her to get home from school.
When she comes through the door, she always says: ‘My boy Baxter’ in greeting as she gives him a huge cuddle.
I know they’ll be friends for life.