For parents Bill and Marie, November 2020 will remain in their minds for years to come. Along with their daughter Kristie, they will forever be grateful to those who donate to their rescue helicopter ensuring it’s there when needed, like it was the day it saved Kristie’s life.
Fit, active, outdoor-loving Kristie loves to run. She has a favourite trail she runs several times a week on the neighbouring farm. It’s no easy jog either, up a farm track to the high hilly paddocks on the outskirts of Rotorua.
A keen horse rider, Kristie knows the terrain well, and so usually runs alone, enjoying the remote solitude and time to herself. However, on this particular day in November, she encouraged her partner to come with her, not knowing at the time how important having him with her that day would be.
They both set off, but halfway into the run, Kristie collapsed in front of her partner. Having no cell phones on them, he had to make the difficult decision to leave her while he quickly ran back home to their lifestyle block to get help.
Due to the remoteness of Kristie’s location and the inaccessible terrain, emergency services immediately dispatched the rescue helicopter. A short 10 minutes after being dispatched, the rescue helicopter was landing on a patch of level ground on top of the hill near where Kristie lay.
Critical Care Flight Paramedic Mike was soon at Kristie’s side preparing her for what would be the ride of her life. Kristie had suffered a ruptured aneurysm - a serious brain bleed, that without emergency medical intervention would be catastrophic.
A breathing tube was quickly and expertly inserted to keep Kristie alive, and with the help of Bill and Marie who live locally and were now on the scene, local paramedics, and the Ngongotahā fire brigade's 4WD ute, got Kristie and CCFP Mike up the hilly terrain to the waiting rescue helicopter.
With Marie by Kristie’s side, it was a quick flight to Waikato Hospital and the waiting critical care team. Kristie spent 3 weeks in hospital after her lifesaving brain surgery.
Through scans of Kristie’s brain, it was discovered that she also had two other aneurysms, these have now been taken care of, and Kristie, now 98% recovered, knows how lucky she was that day.
“There was no way an ambulance could have got to Kristie’s location that day, we are so thankful the rescue helicopter was there when our family needed it. We still have Kristie here with us thanks to that life-saving flight.” says mum Marie.