Jewel Hee from the American Colorado Springs experienced moments of horror in September 2024, when her four-year-old daughter Harper tried to pick up her younger sister Hazel. The child accidentally slipped out of her hands and fell from a small height onto the floor. “I turned around for just a few seconds and when I came back I saw my daughter trying to pick up the baby and put him on her lap,” Jewel described. Hazel started crying and the mother immediately ran to the hospital, the newspaper reported.
Tests showed that the child had not suffered any fractures, but paramedics were concerned by the extremely low level of oxygen in his blood. Hazel was subsequently diagnosed with chronic lung disease and was given antibiotics. “The doctors didn’t seem concerned, so I tried to stay calm too,” Jewel said. However, despite the treatment, the child’s condition did not improve and the family was repeatedly hospitalized.
It wasn’t until an MRI in May 2025 revealed the true cause of the problems that Hazel suffered a stroke while still pregnant. Doctors said it was probably caused by a blood clot in the placenta that was passed from mother to baby. “I couldn’t believe that my baby had a stroke before birth and no one noticed,” Jewel said with tears in her eyes.
According to the doctors, revealing the diagnosis at the last moment was crucial. “We were told that if we hadn’t figured this out and Hazel had gone through the flu season without treatment, she wouldn’t have survived,” Jewel stated. It was an unfortunate accident at home that indirectly saved Hazel’s life, which is why today the family considers Harper a hero.
Hazel has multiple health complications due to a prenatal stroke. She suffers from developmental delays, low muscle tone, needs oxygen therapy and is fed with a feeding tube. “Every milk she drank ended up in her lungs instead of her stomach,” Jewel explained. The child also has orthoses on his legs that help him strengthen his muscles.
Jewel admits that she felt both anger and helplessness after being diagnosed. “I kept wondering why no one caught it sooner when she had all the controls,” she said. She believes earlier intervention could have reduced the number of procedures and therapies her daughter needs today.
In the end, Jewel decided to speak publicly to draw attention to the importance of careful monitoring of the health of newborns. “If something doesn’t seem right about the child, don’t be discouraged. Ask questions and insist on examinations. I am infinitely grateful that we found out in time. I thank God every day that my daughter is alive.” she told her parents.
