Your generosity gave this family a future…
When Aman went into sudden early labour while far from specialist care, it was your support that made the impossible possible. Because of our kind supporters, the rescue helicopters were able to respond immediately - bringing expert medical teams, saving two fragile newborns...
Today, those tiny twins are thriving seven-year-olds, full of life and laughter. This is the impact you make…
Then… A Life-Altering Emergency
Seven years ago, Aman and her family were enjoying a peaceful getaway near Mt Ruapehu when their world turned upside down. At just 28 weeks pregnant, Aman unexpectedly went into early labour. With no time to spare and Taupo Hospital unequipped for a C-section delivery, the situation became critical.
Two rescue helicopters – the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter and the Greenlea Rescue Helicopter - sprang into action. One carried a specialist NICU team from Waikato Hospital to Taupo, while the other was readied to transport Aman and her newborns.
The twins were born breech but stable, and immediately airlifted to Waikato Hospital. Aman followed in a separate rescue helicopter for post-birth care. At under 1 kg each, the babies were fragile, but fierce. They spent over a month in NICU before being transferred to Middlemore Hospital, where the family was finally reunited.
“‘Thank you’ seems a very small word for giving us life.” – Aman
Now… Thriving, Energetic, and Full of Life
Fast forward seven years, and Aman’s twins are happy, healthy, and thriving. Looking at them now, it’s hard to believe they once fit in the palm of their parents’ hands.
“The work you do is life-changing, and we are forever grateful for the role you played in our lives,” says Aman. “Every now and then, we sit down as a family and share this story with our children, reminding them of their incredible start in life.”
The memory of that day remains vivid - the fear, the urgency, and the overwhelming gratitude for the rescue helicopter crews and medical professionals who made survival possible. Their swift, coordinated response didn’t just save lives - it gave a family a future.
“Gratitude doesn’t seem like a strong enough word.”
Aman and her family are proud to support and share their story as part of the 40th Anniversary of the Philips Search & Rescue Trust. Their journey is a reminder of the incredible difference the rescue helicopter makes every single day.
Donate today to help save more lives > https://give.rescue.org.nz/event/waikato-westpac-rescue-helicopter/donate