Lea’s Story
December 6, 2019
A year in review…
January 7, 2020
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Great Western Air Ambulance Charity are asking people to think of them this Christmas and support their #ChristmasMission.
The festive season is traditionally a time to celebrate with loved ones, yet it’s a sad fact that many people throughout the holiday season will suffer a medical illness or traumatic incident that leave them in need of emergency critical care. People like Michelle…
When Michelle fell off her horse last year, she was left with a brain injury, drifting in and out of consciousness with unstable breathing and was in need of emergency care, fast.
GWAAC’s Critical Care Team arrived on scene and made the decision to intubate Michelle, putting her under a general anaesthetic and into an induced coma to protect her brain and prevent swelling, stabilising her so that they could transfer her to Southmead Hospital’s major trauma unit.
After a week of being kept under sedation and heavily monitored, Michelle started opening her eyes and after three weeks in hospital she was allowed back home to be with her family. In April this year Michelle came back to visit Great Western Air Ambulance Charity at the air base, where she met Dr Ed Valentine who attended to her on the day of her accident.
Michelle’s mother, Sarah, said: “If you hadn’t been there things could have been very, very different. Her heart rate was all over the place and she wasn’t breathing properly. It just doesn’t bear thinking about, it’s made a massive difference to our lives.”
Our crew will be working hard every day this Christmas to keep families together for many years to come. Please support our Christmas Mission this year, and help us be there for more families like Michelle’s.
