Life Flight

I don’t think I’ve ever been in an ambulance before, let alone an ambulance with my newborn, about to board a flight to starship!

When Adelle gave birth to her first child Isaac, everything seemed perfect. The last thing she expected was for her newborn son to be facing a life-and-death situation in the first week of his life.

“It was a very normal pregnancy. He was my first so we weren’t sure when he would arrive. I was really looking forward to him arriving but typically of a first baby, he was a week late.

“When I went into labour we just tootled into Lower Hutt Hospital. And it was just a really normal birth – he passed all the newborn tests and checks, and we headed home from hospital feeling quite pleased with ourselves really!

“It was less than a week after arriving home, one morning I noticed Isaac was slightly ‘twitchy’. And I just thought maybe it was a newborn thing, like hiccups, it just looked like he was having little baby hiccups.

“So we went about our routine that morning and headed down to the local café, feeling great, feeling like I had nailed this newborn baby thing. But then the twitches got more severe, and he started to look a bit distressed after them. I began to worry and quickly decided to check in with the midwife.

“Obviously she knows a lot more than me. She very calmly said “This doesn’t seem quite right. I think we need to get him down to the hospital. I’ll ring ahead and take you to A&E.”

“Looking back now, I can see how at the time it didn’t quite click how important this was. I knew something was wrong, and sort of felt a little panicky but was still quite calm and just thinking it was all about being cautious and careful and really looking out for my boy.

“So, in we headed and, just as we arrived Isaac had a big seizure. I can remember them making an announcement over the intercom. From then on it went into full emergency response. Loads of people flooded in and got him hooked up and were checking him out.”

Adelle’s world was flipped in an instant. From a happy morning café trip together to suddenly confronted with the impact of an emergency response in hospital and overwhelming fear for her tiny newborn.

“At this point I was a red-hot mess weeping in the corner…. not coping.

I thought he was going to die. I was fearing the worst.

Every day, Life Flight donors help families who have been unexpectantly thrust into scary situations, medical emergencies, just like Adelle. Families who may be ‘fearing the worst’ and need your urgent response.

“Isaac was sent off for various scans and tests. When the CT scan came back it showed he had a spontaneous IVH, which means a large bleed on the brain.

“It was now night shift, and the medical team said he needs to get to Auckland so they could operate. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was told later there was a major chance of him having a further seizure and for it to be fatal.

“This is when the amazing Life Flight Air Ambulance team turned up. They were phenomenal.

“Less than an hour from when they made the call to send him to Auckland, we were locked and loaded on the plane and ready to go. We flew up to Auckland and Isaac had lifesaving brain surgery at 8.39am the next morning.

When a medical emergency strikes, every minute counts. And it’s not just the speed of the Air Ambulance planes that is critical but also the Life Flight teams who are highly trained to work quickly and efficiently at a moment’s notice. It’s only because of donors like you, that Kiwi kids like Isaac can be flown to critical care.

“This situation gave us a real awareness and appreciation for the work people like Life Flight do, and just how awesome these teams are.

“Even though it’s the most terrible thing that’s ever happened in my entire world. This is their normal. I’m grateful for people like Captain Jol. We’re so lucky to have their commitment, their skill but also their humanity and kindness towards us.”

“We couldn’t have got there in time any other way.”

At the Life Flight base, the teams onboard the Westpac Chopper and Air Ambulance planes always grateful when picking up another patient, knowing its donors like you that make the missions possible.

“As time went on, the likelihood of having another haemorrhage went down and down. Each appointment brought better news.”

Now, seven years later, Isaac is in good health and living his best life. When thinking about the donors who make flights like Isaac’s possible, Adelle was speechless.

Whatever has encouraged or compelled you to support Life Flight is just phenomenal. For Life Flight to be able to exist, for it to be so well supported, and so well equipped, just thank you.

Photo by Brady Dyer / BradyDyer.com

What does Isaac think about this big journey?
“I like that you helped me prevent stuff and get my brain working!”

This Christmas season, 50 kids like Isaac will need emergency Air Ambulance flights and it’s only through your support they can get the life-saving care they need. If you’d like to give the gift of life this Christmas, click the link below.