LifeFlight charity saves life

Local woman owes her life to the pilot and crew of a LifeFlight rescue mission.

FOREVER GRATEFUL: Juliann Penrose owes her life to the pilot and crew of a LifeFlight rescue mission. Picture: Contributed

IN TIMES of medical emergency it's comforting to know that although rural residents have access to regional hospitals, trained practitioners and an ambulance service, there is another vital service that ensures distance will not be a barrier to critical health care.

Rescue helicopter services are on stand-by 24 hours a day to provide emergency transport for seriously ill patients to specialised care.

One of these services is the RACQ LifeFlight Rescue.

There are eight of the iconic blue and yellow community choppers operating out of Mount Isa, Bundaberg, the Sunshine Coast, Toowoomba and Brisbane.

Each carries a critical care doctor, crewman, an intensive care flight paramedic and pilot.

More than two thirds of their flying missions involve the transportation of seriously ill patients to more specialised medical care.

The LifeFlight Foundation is a charity that helps fund this service and it depends on donations from the community.

Although the rescue service receives some government funding, 30 per cent of the community rescue service is funded by the LifeFlight Foundation through a variety of fundraising events and programs with donations funding more than 5000 rescue flights per year in Queensland.

LifeFlight also encourages anyone who has ever used a helicopter rescue service to share their story.

Personal stories help highlight the importance of keeping these helicopters funded and operating.

No one knows this better than Juliann Penrose, who owes her life to the pilot and crew of one such rescue mission.

Four years ago Juliann was diagnosed with an AVM or abnormal vascular malformation on the left side of her brain.

It is a rare condition that she had unknowingly lived with since birth.

Five months after her diagnosis, on Christmas Eve 2014, Juliann suffered a life threatening brain haemorrhage.

This occurred just eight weeks after having major surgery to remove the AVM.

Juliann was transferred from her home to the Chinchilla Hospital by ambulance.

Assisting in her transport was her partner Paul who, as a firefighter, took on the role of 'ambo assist'.

Attending to her medical care was local paramedic Don Kern, to whom she will be forever grateful.

There was local flooding in the creek near their home due to recent rains and the Burnt Bridge Road was under water.

To avoid crossing the swollen creek Paul had to divert around it.

This added many more kilometres to an already traumatic journey.

Eventually they accessed Chinchilla from the western side.

Dangerous storms were once again building up that day and Juliann's condition was critical.

"If not for the service of the rescue helicopter that took me to Brisbane for emergency surgery I would not be here today,” Juliann said.

"The events of that day, the days after and even days leading up to the incident have been wiped from my memory and recovery has been, at times, frustrating and difficult.”

Juliann said she had just celebrated her 22nd birthday a few days earlier and spent time with friends fishing at Grey's Reserve.

"Photos taken that day helped to jog my memory,” she said.

"Life is precious and I intend to make the most of this gift I have been given.

"To celebrate another birthday and honour the service of the LifeFlight Rescue Service I am attempting to raise $5000 by December 24.”

Juliann said the target could easily be achieved.

"To donate just go to the Facebook page, Juliann's Birthday Fundraiser for LifeFlight Australia Limited and click on Donate,” she said.

"LifeFlight is a safety net for every one of us here in regional Queensland, protecting our loved ones in time of need.

"We may not have the kind of hospital that can deal with every contingency, we may not have access to the most sophisticated and advanced medical equipment available or the specialist doctors required, but we can be assured that help will always be available if the rescue helicopter service can continue to operate.”