At our Holly Tree Lodge in Shafton, Barnsley, one staff member’s extraordinary actions have gone beyond her everyday nursing duties to save a young child’s life. Desiree Peters, a staff nurse who has been nursing residents at Holly Tree for 3 years, recently came to the rescue of a local toddler in a terrifying medical emergency.
Desiree was hailed a hero by local resident Emmy, the mother of two-year-old Lainey, after her quick-thinking helped save the little girl’s life. The incident occurred when Lainey’s grandmother, Catherine, was watching her when the toddler had a medical episode and suddenly stopped breathing and turned blue.
Desiree jumped into action, giving life-saving medical attention until Lainey began breathing again and her oxygen levels stabilised. Despite not being a trained paediatric nurse, Desiree drew upon her past experience working in a children’s ward over 20 years ago, bringing vital skills into practice. “After a long 10 minutes, Lainey started crying, and I was so relieved that we managed to bring her back,” Desiree said.
Kasia, the manager of Holly Tree Lodge, praised Desiree’s heroic actions: “We are immensely proud of Desiree. Her quick thinking and care helped save Lainey. Though we primarily care for the elderly here, we’re very much part of the community, and it’s wonderful to see how we can help others when they need us.”
Desiree’s exceptional actions have earned her a place as a finalist in the upcoming Proud of Barnsley Awards for her bravery and community spirit. Her dedication, both to the residents of Holly Tree Lodge and the wider community, is a true testament to her compassionate nature and exceptional professionalism.
