Mom driving home started feeling breathless and cold — her 6-year-old made a call that saved her life
Keeping a close lookout for symptoms and unusual signs can render life-saving. A 6-year-old boy, Aayaan Gujjar, managed to save his mother, Zahra Naqvi’s life, thanks to his keen observation, per NBC 4 Washington. The duo was in a car when the boy noticed his mother seemed off. She was feeling lightheaded and experienced a few other symptoms. He acted smartly in due time by recalling his mom’s teaching. The 6-year-old immediately pulled the phone and made a life-saving call, paving the way for timely help.
Recalling the incident, Naqvi mentioned that she was returning home after running errands with her son. "As I was driving home, I started getting lightheaded and I felt sick. As I got into the house, I could feel my legs giving out, like, my legs were shaking. I was sweating. I was cold,” she recounted. The symptoms were worsening with time, making it difficult for the mom to call for help. “I could feel, like, my lungs were contracting and I couldn't breathe,” she added. The mom had contracted the norovirus and was not aware.
According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, norovirus is a contagious disease that causes vomiting and diarrhea and has been spreading across the United States. Statistics revealed that there were 2,571 norovirus outbreaks between August 2024 and May 2025, reported by NoroSTAT-participating states. The symptoms and effects might vary but it is recommended that people seek medical assistance or guidance to ensure effective treatment and recovery. While major symptoms include vomiting, stomach pain and dehydration, even nausea, fever and so on can be noticed, like in the case of Naqvi.
Luckily, her 6-year-old son knew what to do. Gujjar had been observing his mum feeling uneasy from the time they were in the car. He recalled what his mum had been teaching him from the age of 2 and called the emergency services. “Hello, mommy is sick,” he told 911 dispatcher Paul. The officer was able to speak to the young boy and arrange for help in due time. The Montgomery County police later invited Gujjar and his mum to meet the dispatcher who saved the woman’s life. "Because I could tell it was a young kid on the phone, the main thing for me was to try to get a location or address, just because as long as we have that, we can send help out,” Paul recalled.
Naqvi is extremely proud of her son for realizing her need for help, recalling the right action and acting bravely. "Knowing the type of world we live in, I wanted to always be proactive, then reactive,” Naqvi explained, speaking of her decision to teach Gujjar about emergency services. "I think the biggest thank-you I owe is to my son and his quick thinking,” she added. The greatest takeaway that officers and dispatchers are voicing is to teach kids to do their best in emergencies like these. No matter their age, knowing even a bit about how to call 911 or ask for help can be a life-saving act.