Isabella's Story
It started out just like any other day. Allison was at work, so was I. Issy was at school, safe and sound. Or so we thought.
I was in a lunchtime meeting when Allison called. When she called back a second time, I knew something was up.
She told me that Issy had been hit by a car at the Regatta Centre in Penrith.
Within minutes, we were at Westmead Hospital. In fact, we were there before the helicopter. What was scary was they kept telling us she had a broken arm. But I knew you don’t use a helicopter to fly a kid with a broken arm.
So, we just waited at the hospital - I couldn’t tell you how long, it felt like a lifetime.
Finally, Issy arrived and was stabilised. As we walked into Emergency, we could hear her saying ‘I want my mum, I want my mum!’
Issy spent three days in intensive care, and then the rest of the week in hospital. She had a fractured hip, broken pelvis, broken arm, and internal bleeding. She spent eight weeks in a wheelchair.
It was only later that we found out what had happened. A parent had arrived at the Centre and parked their van at the top of a slope in neutral, with the handbrake off. The van took off down the hill, knocking kids out of the way before hitting Issy, dragging her along underneath.
A year has passed, and Issy’s back to normal, although she won’t speak about it even now. Allison gets upset every time the subject comes up.
It’s not until something like that happens that you realise just how quickly NRMA CareFlight has to react. They were there within minutes.
I know there are a lot of good causes, but few organisations deliver such an immediate and life-saving service.
We’ve never had a bill from NRMA CareFlight: none of their patients do. It’s only through the public’s generosity that they can continue to save lives, day in, day out.
Please donate what you can to support this amazing service.
Thank you on behalf of Issy, Allison and myself.
Greg
Grateful dad
PS: I wouldn’t want any parent to go through what we went through. But if they do, we can at least make sure their child has the very best chance, thanks to NRMA CareFlight. Every dollar counts.
The Doctor's Story
“I remember Isabella's case very well, both for the speed with which we attended the scene, and for her amazing calmness.
Within three minutes of the call we were in the air, landing even as the ambulance crew were calling for helicopter back-up.
Isabella was lying on the ground. And that's the second thing I remember: although she was in a lot of pain, she really impressed me with how level-headed and calm she was - absolutely brilliant.
This rescue was also memorable for a portable utrasound we had on loan. The hand-held device let us check for any internal injuries, on the spot. We determined she had a liver laceration and an injury to her spleen. A specialist at the hospital was notified, and had the team standing by when we arrived.
We got her to Westmead in seven minutes. An ambulance would have taken 40, and she could easily have died.
I'm delighted to hear she's well again - she was an absolute trooper.”
Dr Shane Trevithick
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