DSAA Beeline, Issue 1 2017

why we do it
Thank you for helping baby George
When new-born baby George Ward stopped breathing, he was rushed to
hospital in the air ambulance. His mum, Tory, shares their story
n December 2011, my son George decided that
I
he didn’t want to hang around in my tummy
and that he wanted his first Christmas early.
Although he was born eight weeks prematurely, we had
a relatively easy time in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and
he was released just after Christmas.
On 30 December, while my husband Richard was
feeding him, George stopped breathing. Then started
the scariest time that both of us have ever experienced.
Richard called 999 while I started performing CPR. It
wasn’t long at all before a paramedic from Frome called
Alan turned up. He came into the lounge and took over
giving CPR as George was still not breathing.
He asked me to go and look for his red book; I now
realise that this was to get me out of the room given the
circumstances. The next thing I knew was that the air
ambulance was outside.
George was flown to the Royal United Hospital, Bath.
Alan drove me to the hospital and the first thing I
remember was one of your crew standing at the entrance.
He looked at me and put his thumb up in the air; I hoped
that this meant everything was ok or that George had at
least survived the journey to hospital.
Richard, Tory,
George and baby
brother Harry
I was taken straight into the A&E department. George
was lying on a little bed and had a bright light shining on
him; he was stripped to his nappy and looked tiny. Rich
was making his way over in his car and hadn’t yet arrived.
I was then told that consultants were going to perform
a lumbar puncture on George and I was taken to a side
room where Rich joined me after a stressful journey to the
hospital. It wasn’t long before we were taken back into A&E
and George was whisked to the Children’s Ward where
he was going to be looked after. He spent three days in
hospital and thankfully he made a full recovery. We never
knew what caused him to stop breathing that day but the
consultants believe he may have choked on his feed.
I always support your wonderful charity whenever
I can and just wanted to pass on my thanks to the air
ambulance crew who worked that day.
I’ve sent you a recent photograph of our family. As you
can see, we have a new addition called Harry, who I am
pleased to say arrived on his due date and hasn’t required
your services – and I plan on keeping it that way!
The crew who attended this incident were: CCP
Paul Owen, Paramedic Steve Freeman and Pilot
Phil Merritt
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance @dsairambulance 29
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