Life Flight

Little Harrison has been a fighter since birth. Born with Hydrocephalus, he suffered from a severe brain bleed when he was an infant and will require a shunt that runs from his head into his tummy for the rest of his life.

He’s defied all odds in beating that challenge. Unfortunately, it wasn’t his last.

Shortly after his first birthday, Harrison was living the life of a regular little boy, learning to walk, talk, and play with the other kids in daycare.

When a common bug did the rounds through daycare, most of his playmates recovered quickly, but not Harrison. His condition worsened until he could barely move.

The decision was made he needed urgent specialist care. Harrison’s parents, Nicola and David, had no idea they’d be calling Starship “home” for the next month and a half.

When they arrived, the doctors prepared them for the worst, advising them Harrison was very sick, and recovery was uncertain.

Despite the odds, Harrison regained his strength and learned to socialise with the nurses and doctors rather than with his friends at daycare.

After six long, uncertain weeks, he emerged from his final surgery, and recovery had never looked more promising. The doctors determined Harrison could be cleared to return to Wellington under the right conditions, and one of Life Flight’s air ambulance planes was perfect for the mission.

When the news came in the morning that we could fly home with Life Flight, we cried with happiness!

– shares Nicola.

Having flown countless families home after long treatment, crewperson Jack understood the excitement perfectly. “It’s tough being separated from your home and family for so long,” he says. “It can become very isolating. So, reuniting a whānau is special; we always look forward to those missions.”

After a few months of recovery, Harrison is now stronger than ever.

During our last Life Flight Open Day, Harrison and Nicola came to visit us. They got to see the Life Flight Air ambulance planes and chat with the crew that assisted in their journey.

“Now I’ve had some time to reflect; we were actually really lucky,” Nicola says,

and really lucky to be able to come home, that’s thanks to Life Flight.