Jessica Cameron has always prioritised teaching her daughters practical life skills and encouraged them to give everything a go.
A huge part of this has been the Northland family’s involvement in St John Cadets, where Nicole, 10, and Vanessa, six, learn every week about a wide variety of first aid, survival and life skills.
Jessica knew it would stand them in good stead, but she never imagined the important knowledge they’ve gained would also be lifesaving when her own mum had a heart attack early on Labour Day morning last year.
Jessica was asleep at the time but Nicole, then nine, knew exactly what to do when her grandmother Susan was struck by tight chest pains and unable to speak or breathe properly.
“All of a sudden, I couldn’t talk, only whisper,” recalls Susan, 56, who lives with a chronic knee condition. “I waved at Nicole. She was watching TV, but I was miming 111 with my fingers and hitting my heart.”
Through her local Doubtless Bay Division of St John Cadets, Nicole had learned communication skills in emergency situations, including Morse code and how to use charades and hand actions if a person is nonverbal or doesn’t speak English.
Seeing her nana in trouble, Nicole leapt into action, running down the hallway to wake her mum.
“She shook me with both hands so strongly, it actually turned me over,” says Jessica, 31, who quickly realised something was seriously wrong and called 111.
Serving their community is important to the foursome.
In the background, Nicole was calling out the address for emergency services and saying, “It’s my nanma’s heart.”
Thankfully, an ambulance was heading back to Kaitaia and made it to their home in the remote beachside town on Mangōnui in around 10 minutes. Within 25 minutes of calling 111, Susan was on her way to hospital.
“If Nicole hadn’t been awake that day, I don’t know if I could have walked to Jess’ bedroom to get help,” shares Susan.
A tense week followed as the hands-on grandparent underwent tests in Kaitaia and Whāngarei hospitals, revealing she’d suffered a significant heart attack.
“During the angiogram, I could see my heart on two big screens,” says Susan, who had a second heart attack in November. “They told me the heart attack had damaged the lining of my heart and there was a bulge in it.”
Last year was a challenging time for the close-knit family after Susan’s father, Duncan Cameron, passed away in April. Jessica’s nana, Joy Harris, and dad, William Chamberlain, also died in 2022, and it’s still emotional to think they could have lost Susan too.
“It has been really hard on us,” says Susan, taking a deep breath. “When I got home, Nicole gave me the biggest hug. She just about knocked me over and said, ‘I thought you were going to die and be with Granddad.'”
The grief has made the Northlanders all the more appreciative of Nicole’s amazing actions and for the presence of St John Cadets in their lives.
“I got Nicole a love heart necklace and a trophy engraved with ‘For my little hero, love Nanma’,” shares Susan. “It’s for her to remember what she’s done and for the future to keep it up.”
Both Nicole and Vanessa attend Cadets’ training weekly, represent their division in competitions, and go away on camps and excursions as they work to achieve badges representing different skills they’ve learned.
“We just did a weekend camp for their water safety and camping badges,” explains Jessica, who is a volunteer leader and hopes to pursue a career with the organisation. “They learned if you get lost or injured how to find your way back and how to carry someone out of the bush. They know how to do CPR and what to expect, like, if you put someone in the recovery position, they may vomit.
“My kids are thriving. They’re learning life-long skills and it gives them something to be proud of. It’s given them so much confidence, leadership skills and they’ve made new friendships along the way.”
Nicole’s still in primary school, but Cadets has had such a positive impact on her, she’s already considering a career as a nurse one day.
“I think I’d like that, to be looking after patients every day,” Nicole says.
Smiling at their caring girl, Susan and Jessica say they are immensely proud of her and her sister Vanessa. They have both received St John Cadets awards, including special recognition for completing
100 hours of community service each.
“I drop them off at school at 8am, and they start cooking up duck eggs and spaghetti for the school breakfast club programme, and serve the children who come early and haven’t eaten,” tells Jessica proudly. “That’s 100 hours of service and they’re only 10 and six. I just hope they find success in whatever they’re wanting to do and cope well. Let them tackle what life brings to them.”
To find out more or support St John Cadets, visit stjohn.org.nz/what-we-do/youth-programmes
