A 11-year-old Garden Hill girl knew what to do at the right time and through that a 70-year age difference hasn’t stopped two neighbours from becoming close friends.
The drama started on sunny afternoon on August 23 in the hamlet of Garden Hill in the Municipality of Port Hope.
Eleven-year-old Hayley Micklethwaite would regularly pass by the home of 81-year-old Elaine Haylow on Larose Crescent.
Hayley would always say “hi” to her neighbour, but didn’t know the neighbours well enough so wasn’t allowed in their home.
But through time, she found out that Haylow had a cat named Pepper, and wanted to see the cat.
Pepper was a indoor cat, so Haylow was careful about bringing it outside.
On August 23, Hayley was passing by and Haylow said she would bring out Pepper for her to visit with.
Pepper was being held by Haylow and Hayley was having a nice time getting to know her neighbour while petting the cat.
Everything was going fine, that is, until Pepper saw two puppies nearby that had got out of their yard.
Being an indoor cat – Pepper lost it.
“The cat was absolutely petrified. Was trying desperately to get away. And I wasn’t going to let him go.”
Haylow knew that if she let go of her beloved cat that would be the end of seeing her as she would dart away.
“It’s my pet and it’s a indoor cat that had never seen any animals close up before. So I knew I would never see my cat again and I couldn’t let that happen.”
So as Pepper tried feverishly to get away, Haylow hung on and in the process, got a “tremendous amount of cuts.”
Peppers claws dug into Haylows arms.
Haylow said the attack went on for a few minutes before she was able to get up, open the front door to her home and, “throw him into the house.”
Haylow suffered at least 25 stitches in the attack. Tendon damage to one finger. Most of the cuts were to her arms and hands, but scratches to her legs as well.
While Haylow was trying to cam Pepper, Hayley sprang into action taking the dogs away as far as she could from the house.
Then ran back to Haylow to try and look after her.
“I was a wreck. Totally in shock. Couldn’t stand up, couldn’t sit up,” said Haylow.
Hayley called 9-1-1 and put cloths on Haylow to try and keep her calm and wait for the ambulance to arrive.
“She just knew that I needed to go to the hospital because I had a lot of arm damage.”
Blood was everywhere from the front porch, the front hall and in the kitchen.
Seeing the attack, Hayley said she was thinking the worst about what could happen to “Miss Elaine.”
“I’m not a very good fan of blood,” said Hayley.
But she knew her friend need help – fast.
“I tried my best to help Miss Elaine.”
“I tried my hardest not to break down in tears in front of Miss Elaine.
Along with another person that arrived at the home, they wrapped Haylow’s arm to help stop the bleeding.”
Hayley was only supposed to be gone for a few minutes when she left her house to drop off a bicycle helmet. Thinking her mother may be worried and upset at what had happened, she went home and told her mother who is a nurse who rushed back to the Haylow home to assist in anyway she could.
With her arm still on the mend and work to be done on her tendon, the two new friends sat on Haylow’s couch to talk about what happened.
Haylow can’t say enough about her new best friend.
“She’s the best friend I’ve had in years. She really, really is.”
Haylow said Hayley has always been extremely polite and friendly ever since “she was a little kid.”
“I think the world of her.”
Right after the attack, Haylow said there is no way she could have done everything if not for Hayley’s help.
“I need everybody to know what she did for me.”
While Haylow was recovering, Hayley even made a card for her close friend.
There is a star on the front of the card and a heart on the inside.
The letter reads:
“When having a friend age doesn’t matter. They can be older or younger but that person still is important to you. I used to call you and Frank, “the porch people,” but as our friendship grew you have evolved into Miss Elaine (which suits you!). Anyway, thank you very much for being there for me and keep on being a wonderful neighbour.
Love: Hayley (your neighbour)
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
