In a remarkable display of composure and bravery, 12-year-old Matilda Little has been officially recognized for her life-saving actions during a medical emergency at her home. On November 1, Matilda was alone with her mother, Katarina, when an ordinary moment turned into a life-threatening crisis. After consuming a chocolate bar, Katarina began suffering a severe anaphylactic reaction, leaving her daughter as her only immediate lifeline.
As the allergic reaction intensified, the situation became increasingly dire. Despite Katarina’s attempt to use her epinephrine auto-injector, her symptoms rapidly progressed to include shortness of breath, a tightening throat, nausea, and tingling in her lips. Recognizing that her mother was losing the ability to help herself, Matilda stepped in to manage the crisis, demonstrating a level of focus that surprised both her family and the emergency responders who arrived later.
Matilda’s decisive actions began with a call to emergency services, where the dispatcher instructed her to administer a second auto-injector to her mother. Dispatcher Nicole Middleton, only on her second day in the role, recalled the girl’s impressive performance under pressure. “I’m proud of how she answered all my questions and followed instructions so we could get help to her mum as quickly as possible,” Middleton said. “She was a little scared, but she clearly gave me her location, and I stayed on the phone until I heard the paramedic crew arrive.”
When Ambulance Victoria (AV) paramedics reached the scene, Matilda continued to play a vital role by directing them to her mother and providing a detailed account of the events. Advanced Life Support paramedic Louise Creasey noted that Matilda’s prompt assistance significantly improved the clinical outcome. “From the moment we arrived on scene, Matilda was an amazing help,” Creasey stated. “We could tell right away that she really cares for her mum’s health and… she did everything she possibly could to make sure she got the emergency care she needed.”
The paramedics were able to stabilize Katarina on-site, thanks largely to the early administration of epinephrine from the auto-injectors, which helped reverse the most dangerous symptoms. She was eventually extricated from the home using a stair chair and transported to Sunshine Hospital for further monitoring. Reflecting on the ordeal, Katarina expressed immense pride in her daughter’s resilience. “Til is only 12 years old, yet she showed maturity, courage, and calm that many adults would struggle to maintain in such a terrifying situation,” she said.
In recognition of her extraordinary efforts, Matilda was formally honored by Ambulance Victoria for her bravery and quick thinking. The organization praised her as an example of how vital it is for young people to be prepared for emergency situations. “Luckily, the EpiPens had been promptly administered to Katarina… Thanks to Matilda’s efforts, we were able to stabilise her mum and promptly transport her to hospital,” Creasey added, emphasizing that the outcome could have been very different without Matilda’s intervention.
While the event was deeply traumatic, Katarina hopes their story encourages other parents to teach their children what to do in an emergency. She emphasized that because anaphylaxis can render a person unable to speak, children must be part of the emergency plan. “It was a deeply traumatic event for both of us,” Katarina admitted. “We were both shaken but I am so grateful Matilda knew what to do.” As she concluded, “Having that conversation with your kids, although difficult, is important as it might just save your life.”
Congratulations to Matilda for staying cool and collected when her mom needed her most and congratulations to Katrina for teaching her daughter life-saving skills.
We urge all who have been prescribed epinephrine to always take two doses along everywhere, every time, and to administer the first when you first suspect anaphylaxis.
