First time mother-to-be Helen did everything right throughout her pregnancy this year. She hung up her riding helmet and was taking extra care around the horses. But one hot February morning, a regular day at the stud took a dramatic turn.
Meet Helen, a stable hand, horse rider and the proud mother of six-month-old baby Theo.
Helen and her little family live in the Wheatbelt town of Narrogin, 192 kilometres southeast of Perth.
Helen was feeding the horses at the stud where she works when a foal kicked out and made contact with her stomach, right where her baby's head was positioned.
Helen’s boss drove her to Narrogin Hospital where scans showed the baby was losing blood and doctors decided she urgently needed the Royal Flying Doctor Service to take her to Perth to save her baby’s life.
"The RFDS crew were amazing and calmed me on the flight, assuring me I was in safe hands," said Helen.
"I knew they were doing all they could to achieve a healthy outcome for my unborn baby.”
It took the RFDS Fortescue Heli-Med helicopter just 40 minutes to fly Helen from Narrogin directly to the rooftop of Perth Children’s Hospital where she was then rushed by ambulance to the nearby King Edward Memorial Hospital to undergo a rare intrauterine procedure.
"It’s amazing that within just a few hours of my accident, I was more than 200 kilometres away in an operating theatre in Perth undergoing a procedure to save my baby’s life," said Helen.
Helen
Seven weeks later Helen gave birth to a perfectly healthy baby named Theo. In a special coincidence, Theo shares his name with the RFDS doctor who cared for Helen on the her transfer to Perth.
“I will never forget the part the RFDS played in saving Theo’s life and words can’t express how grateful I am for the service.”
Theo's first Christmas is possible thanks to donations like yours, helping us to deliver the finest care around WA.
