\u201cKeep smilin\u2019, keep shinin\u2019 knowing you can always count on me for sure. That\u2019s what friends are for. For good times and bad times I\u2019ll be on your side forever more. That\u2019s what friends are for . . .\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The lyrics of the famous song by Dionne Warwick and Friends made a lasting impression on two friends of Curro Hermanus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
On 23 February during an interschool event in Durbanville, Rebekah Meredith came to Caitlyn Manchester\u2019s rescue when she had an allergic reaction after eating a protein bar. They are both 13 years old and in Grade 8.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt all started when I had this protein bar that I never had before. I am allergic to nuts and after checking the ingredients, I ate the bar and it was really yummy. After a few minutes my tongue started to swell, and I immediately realised that there was something in the bar that I am allergic to,\u201d Caitlyn explained. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Knowing that there is something wrong she rushed to her friend Rebekah for help. \u201cI immediately went to see Rebekah because she is also allergic to nuts and knows what to do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rebekah explained that she always carries a bag with her with two epipens, \u201cjust in case one misfires\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI immediately offered one of my epipens to Caitlyn, but she turned it down and we went to the paramedics for Allergex,\u201d Rebekah explained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After the Allergex didn\u2019t work they went back to the paramedics. \u201cI was getting worse. Two minutes later I was struggling to breathe and I was covered in hives. We rushed back to the paramedics and they gave me water and another Allergex,\u201d Caitlyn said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It just got worse and worse and eventually she agreed to use one of Rebekah\u2019s epipens. \u201cIt got worse before it got better. I was not only struggling to breathe, but I was also vomiting a lot. It was pretty dramatic and hectic.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Rebekah it is protocol that after using the epipen shot you must go straight to the hospital to be monitored for a few hours. \u201cIt was not necessary to take me to the hospital because I was getting better and I told Mr Kobus Vermeulen that if I was not feeling well he can take me to the nearest hospital. Luckily it was not the case,\u201d Caitlyn said. She is very grateful for Rebekah\u2019s friendship and according to her Rebekah didn\u2019t think twice before helping her. \u201cThe epipens are quite expensive, but Rebekah didn\u2019t hesitate to help me. I am so grateful to her.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rebekah said she knows what Caitlyn went through as she has been struggling with allergies since she was two years old. \u201cI found out when I was two years old that I had a nut allergy and I am very aware of what I eat. Whenever I feel a tiny sensation I immediately think \u2018action plan\u2019. If you have a hectic nut energy it is most likely that you have a small allergy on the side,\u201d Rebekah said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Caitlyn can\u2019t thank Rebekah enough for her selfless actions. \u201cI believe that she saved my life and if it wasn\u2019t for her, I wouldn\u2019t be sitting here today,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The event also made Caitlyn realise that she needs to be more proactive. \u201cI am in the process to get epipens and a bracelet and I am going to be more cautious of what I am going to eat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the head of High School Mariet Lemmer she is very proud of these two friends. \u201cThat is what friendship is all about, to help each other and to be there for each other. I am very proud of these girls.\u201d With a smile on their faces Rebekah and Caitlyn agree that this experience showed them the importance of standing together. \u201cYou should not only appreciate your friends but also take care of them. You never know when you\u2019re going to need them.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cKeep smilin\u2019, keep shinin\u2019 knowing you can always count on me for sure. That\u2019s what friends are for. For good times and bad times I\u2019ll be on your side forever more. 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.\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":46324,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_linkdex":"","_yoast_wpseo_content_score":"","_yoast_wpseo_inclusive_language_score":"","_yoast_wpseo_is_cornerstone":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image-id":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image-id":"","newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","_crsspst_to_novanewscoza":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozabloemnewsexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozacityvision":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozadistrictmailhelderberg":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaeikestadnuus":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozakomani-karoo":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozakougaexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozamthathaexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozanoordkaapbulletin":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapaarlpost":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapeexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozapeoplespost":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaswartlandgazette":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozatygerburger":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaudexpress":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozavistanews":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozavrystaatkroon":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaweskusnuus":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaweslander":false,"_crsspst_to_novanewscozaworcesterstandard":false,"_EventAllDay":"","_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":"","_EventShowMapLink":"","_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":"","_EventVenueID":"","_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":"","_VenueShowMapLink":"","_application":"","_batch_id":"","_company_name":"","_company_tagline":"","_company_twitter":"","_company_video":"","_company_website":"","_custom_id":"0fc19113-a508-4d95-b691-904918d24b4f","_EventDuration":"","_EventOrigin":"","_EventTimezoneAbbr":"","_featured":"","_filled":"","_job_expires":"","_job_location":"","_media_credit":"","_media_credit_url":"","_menu_item_menu_item_parent":"","_menu_item_object":"","_menu_item_object_id":"","_menu_item_target":"","_menu_item_type":"","_menu_item_url":"","_menu_item_xfn":"","_navis_media_can_distribute":"","_navis_media_credit_org":"","_OrganizerOrigin":"","_provider":"","_pum_built_in":"","_pum_default_theme":"","_pum_form_conversion_count":"","_remote_id":"","_remote_name":"","_remote_position":"","_report_frequency":"","_report_reference_dates":"","_send_attempts":"","_site_id":"","_sitemap_exclude":"","_sitemap_frequency":"","_sitemap_priority":"","_source_url":"","_subscription_period":"","_subscription_period_interval":"","_subscription_price":"","_tec_slr_enabled":"","_tec_slr_layout":"","_template_type":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_ticket_start_date":"","_tribe_aggregator_allow_multiple_organizers":"","_tribe_aggregator_content_type":"","_tribe_aggregator_file":"","_tribe_aggregator_finalized":"","_tribe_aggregator_hash":"","_tribe_aggregator_import_id":"","_tribe_aggregator_import_name":"","_tribe_aggregator_interactive":"","_tribe_aggregator_origin":"","_tribe_aggregator_post_status":"","_tribe_aggregator_preview":"","_tribe_aggregator_source_name":"","_tribe_aggregator_type":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_hide_attendees_list":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":"","_tribe_ticket_version":"","_type":"","_VenueOrigin":"","_wp_attachment_context":"","_wp_attachment_image_alt":"","_wp_font_face_file":"","_wp_old_date":"","_yoast_wpseo_estimated-reading-time-minutes":"","_yoast_wpseo_focuskeywords":"","_yoast_wpseo_focuskw_text_input":"","_yoast_wpseo_keywordsynonyms":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_block-catalog":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_job_listing_type":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_nova_retailer":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_publication":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_tribe_events_cat":"","_yoast_wpseo_videositemap-duration":"","_yoast_wpseo_videositemap-rating":"","_menu_item_classes":[],"_tribe_modified_fields":[],"_wp_attachment_backup_sizes":[],"_wp_suggested_priv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