Flaming True -life
I escaped a grisly fate when my hero dog came to the rescue.
Walking downstairs to the kitchen, my belly was rumbling away.
It was a Friday before college in March last year and I was going about my daily routine.
As much as I loved my animal management classes, I couldn’t wait for the weekend.
Pottering over to the stove, I pulled out a frying pan.
Cracking a couple of eggs, I decided to sort my toast once my scrambled eggs were done.
And voila! My usual breakfast would be complete.
As I started cooking, my assistance dog Mia – a beautiful German Shepherd – circled around my feet.
It often felt like we lived alone as my housemate was usually out working on call as an electrician.
I bent down and stroked Mia’s smooth fur – she was waiting for her breakfast, too!
Having been diagnosed with Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) in January 2022, I struggled with fainting and unexpected low blood sugar.
With them at risk of dropping at any time, I had to eat first to keep them stable.
‘Sorry Mia,’ I said. ‘You’ll have to wait.’
Only, my phone started beeping in the living room. That must be my blood glucose sensor! I thought. I strolled into the living room to check, leaving Mia alone in the kitchen.
Suddenly, a wave of dizziness passed over me and everything went black.
The next thing I knew, the gruff sound of Mia barking rang in my ears.
Blinking, I couldn’t see beyond her black snout in my face as she licked me frantically. ‘What’s wrong, Mia?’ I asked. But she continued barking at me, even tugging the sleeve of my jumper in a panic.
Suddenly, an all-consuming horror shook through me as I started coming to my senses.
The whole room was filled with huge clouds of smoke.
‘Come on Mia!’ I said, coughing as the smoke began to fill my lungs.
Getting up, my whole body was so weak as I staggered out of the living room.
Thick clouds of black smog billowed out of the kitchen.
Atall, red flame blasted up towards the ceiling, licking at the extractor fan.
But I could barely see beyond the stifling smoke!
Mia barked again, snapping me back into reality.
We swiftly fled into the garden together – my vision was hazy and I couldn’t stop spluttering from all the smoke.
As I stood outside, taking in the sight of black clouds escaping out of my windows, the fire alarm blared from inside the house. Shaken, I rang the fire brigade. ‘There’s been a fire!’ I told them, explaining how Mia had guided me out of the building.
‘Are you alright?’ a passerby yelled over the garden fence.
After I nodded, completely out of it
