Our Impact Patient Stories “My family were told to prepare for the worst.” - Mandy's Story Mandy suffered a brain aneurysm out of the blue when visiting her mother. She was treated by our team before being conveyed to Southmead Hospital for immediate surgery. Against all odds, and after a difficult recovery, she is now on her feet again and even raising awareness for our charity. A Routine Visit Turned Life-Threatening On the morning of my incident, I was visiting my elderly mum at Bloomfield Care Home in Paulton, Somerset. It was supposed to be a routine visit, but on arrival, I started feeling hot and clammy. Suddenly, everything went dark. I don’t remember the five days that followed. When I woke up, I was in a hospital bed, confused but alive. I was told that I had suffered a ruptured brain aneurysm and had needed emergency surgery. Looking back, I realise how lucky I was to be visiting my mum at Bloomfield Care Home. The doctors and nurses acted quickly, calling the emergency services. A land ambulance arrived first, followed by Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, who flew me to Southmead Hospital in Bristol, for immediate surgery. Without the air ambulance, I wouldn’t be here today. Fighting Through a Long Recovery My recovery has been tough. I spent two weeks in Southmead Hospital, one month in Royal United Hospital Bath and six weeks in the Somerset Neurological Rehabilitation Centre in Taunton. The NHS staff were amazing throughout. In the early days, my family were told to prepare for the worst. If I woke up, I might be paralysed on my left side. Defying the Odds Less than a year later, I was walking with the aid of a walking stick. Recently, I have returned to work at Pavers Shoes in Shepton Mallet, supported by incredible colleagues and a business who have generously donated £1,000 to my fundraising for Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance. I’m so grateful for my family’s support and the friends in our village who have helped me through these difficult times. Living in the countryside has made me appreciate the air ambulance even more. In emergencies, quick access to specialist care can mean the difference between life and death. Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance connects our remote communities to excellent medical treatment in places like Bath and Bristol. Giving Back to Save Lives I wanted to give back, so I decided to raise awareness and funds for the charity. I organised a garden party and invited neighbours and friends. My goal was to raise £3,500, the cost of one mission. With the help of raffle donations from individuals and local businesses, we ended up raising £9,238. My journey during the past 18 months has been shaped by the dedication of healthcare professionals, the efficiency of emergency services and the support of loved ones. My story shows the power of community and the life-saving impact of quick medical intervention. By sharing my story, I hope to raise awareness so DSAA can continue their work and offer hope when it’s needed most. The DSAA team who attended Mandy’s incident were: Rob, Mike, Jo, Paul and Tom. View from the Crew: Rob, Critical Care Doctor on Scene On the day of Mandy’s incident, at 15:12, our critical care team responded rapidly after being tasked by the HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) desk to assist a paramedic crew managing an unconscious patient in Paulton. Within four minutes of the call we were airborne. The team landed in a field next to the care home just 13 minutes later. After a short walk down a grassy track and a climb over a locked gate with our bags and other equipment, we arrived at the ambulance, where the paramedic crew who had initially responded to the 999 call provided a handover. Mandy was deeply unconscious and it was immediately clear that she required a pre-hospital emergency anaesthetic, placing her into a medically induced coma to protect her brain and allow advanced airway management. Mandy was intubated, ventilated, and stabilised at the scene before being airlifted to Southmead Hospital. 25 minutes after our crew met Mandy she was carried to the helicopter. 10 minutes after leaving the back of the ambulance, the pilots got us airborne and en-route to Southmead Hospital. We had pre-alerted a specialist team to Mandy’s condition and, when we landed at 16:27, they were waiting for us to complete a handover with minimal delay. Mandy was then taken for onward care through the CT scanner and into neurosurgery. The ambulance paramedics had done a brilliant job providing care to Mandy prior to our arrival. Then thanks to seamless teamwork between ambulance crews, pilots, and clinicians, Mandy received specialist care from the roadside to the operating theatre. A Chain of Care For our crew, the mission ended upon handover at the hospital - but for Mandy, it was just the beginning of her recovery. Our critical care team receive updates on our patient’s ongoing journey thanks to the fantastic work of our Patient and Family Liaison Team, who support patients and their families from the time of the incident, and often long after that. Yet, nothing compares to hearing directly from those we care for and their families. Their stories add depth, meaning and insight, which we deeply appreciate. It remains a privilege to play our part in the chain of care for our patients. We wish Mandy, and all our patients, the very best. Next: Surviving a serious motorcycle collision Manage Cookie Preferences