‘They had just nine minutes to ensure my daughter survived’ says Friday Bridge mum as she praises Magpas for saving the life of her ‘miracle’ baby
Daphne-Louise with the Thinking of You card sent to the family from Magpas Air Ambulance. PHOTO: Magpas - Credit: Archant
A mum has welcomed to her home the 999 air ambulance crew that only a few days earlier had helped save the life of her newly born daughter Daphne.
Dad Jamie Walker with fiancée Shona Fordham in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, just after baby Daphne-Louise was born. PHOTO: Magpas - Credit: Archant
Shona Fordham of Friday Bridge near Wisbech said: “The hospital is calling Daphne a miracle baby and that’s thanks to the expert care she was given by Magpas air ambulance -alongside the emergency services- at our house.”
In the early hours of Monday January 30, the expectant mum went into labour and suffered some serious complications.
She said: “At first everything seemed fine, my waters broke and I started having contractions - then suddenly I just knew something was very wrong.
“I called out to my partner Jamie to dial 999 as soon as he could. I was hysterical; it was a total nightmare.”
Magpas Air Ambulance Dr Anne Booth meeting former patient Baby Daphne-Louise for the first time since the incident. PHOTO: Magpas - Credit: Archant
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Shona had suffered an umbilical prolapse; in other words the baby’s oxygen supply was in severe danger of being cut off.
Within minutes, two first responders arrived at the family home, followed by an EEAST ambulance service paramedic crew and then a Magpas air ambulance enhanced medical team.
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Magpas Dr Anne Booth and Magpas paramedic Alex Pearce had the skills and knowledge to help Shona and keep her baby alive.
Shona said: “They had just nine minutes to ensure my daughter survived”. Dr Booth and paramedic Alex then continued to treat Shona en route to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn, where she gave birth to a very healthy Daphne-Louise.
At home with Calvin Walker (6 years old), Mum Shona Fordham (26), baby Daphne-Louise Walker (9 days old), Dad Jamie Walker (32) and son Tyler Walker (8). PHOTO: Magpas - Credit: Archant
Shona got in touch with the charity over the weekend to say a heartfelt thank you and on Tuesday lance Dr Anne Booth dropped into the family home where she was given a warm welcome.
Dr Booth said: “It was absolutely lovely to see the adorable baby Daphne-Louise and Shona looking so well.
“They are perfect examples of the critical difference we can make for people in life-threatening emergencies, in the East of England and beyond.”
Dr Booth added: “We are only able to provide our vital service thanks to generous donations from the public.”
Proud mum Shona said: “It was so exciting to meet Anne and to introduce her properly to Daphne-Louise.
“I can’t believe Magpas air ambulance is a charity - as soon as Anne and Alex arrived, they just knew what to do. They literally brought the hospital into our house!
“If it wasn’t for Magpas it would have been a very different story for my daughter and even for me. Jamie and I can’t thank them enough.”
