JOURNEY is PROOF OF DIFFERENCE
“We were on our first holiday out of Melbourne since the start of Covid and had looked forward to it for months. We were travelling with Jessica's grandparents, her Aunt and Uncle, as well as myself, her dad Tim and big brother. It was the last day of our trip in Airlie Beach - we were due to fly out the next day and had already been out sailing and snorkelling. We’d had an absolutely wonderful holiday.
Our daughter Jessica, 7, was at the waterpark at the Airlie Beach Discovery Park with her aunt. The rest of us were nearby at the coffee van and cabins at the time when Jessica collapsed coming down a waterslide. She was submerged briefly in the pool of water at the bottom of the slide after collapsing before her quick-acting aunt pulled her out. Her aunt could see instantly that Jessica wasn't responsive, so with the help of a kind bystander who was first-aid trained, they called OOO and started CPR. Thankfully, there was also a staff member nearby who was able to grab the AED and administer it.
The paramedics arrived within a few minutes. Our first piece of luck was that they were already very close and Tim and I were there by that stage as well. No one knew what had happened to Jessica – was it possible she had drowned as she was briefly submerged? We know now that she actually had a cardiac arrest on the waterslide. She was in a very, very critical state having had to have CPR, the AED used and oxygen administered.
Jessica and I were loaded into the ambulance at the park and the next piece of good fortune was that the RACQ CQ Rescue helicopter had just landed down the road in Airlie Beach (they had been diverted after being tasked to attend to another patient). It only took a couple of minutes in the ambulance to reach the waiting helicopter. The incredible chopper crew worked with the amazing paramedics in the ambulance for what I believe was an hour to ensure Jessica was stable enough to be flown.
During this time, Tim and I waited outside the ambulance unsure whether our daughter would survive, both of us in a state of complete and utter shock. Once Jessica was intubated and in an induced coma and ready for the flight, we were finally able to see her. Tim then had to say an incredibly difficult goodbye and I boarded the helicopter to accompany her on the flight to Mackay. I will never forget the sound of the helicopter blades; I think that sound will haunt me forever. Sam, the critical care paramedic, was such a kind support to me throughout the flight to Mackay Base Hospital and upon our arrival. Jessica was rushed into emergency where what felt like a room full of people were waiting for her.
After several hours, I was finally reunited with Jessica in the intensive care unit (ICU) where she was still in an induced coma. Finally, we were transferred to Townsville Hospital to be admitted to the PICU, arriving at around 3am. During this time, Tim and the family hired the last available hire car in Airlie Beach and drove the five hours to Townsville to meet us there.
RACQ CQ Rescue’s Critical Care Paramedic Sam visited us in Mackay hours after our arrival and then again in Townsville. To me that was going above and beyond and honestly was so incredibly comforting in such a horrendous time.
Jessica was in an induced coma for another two days, during which she had many tests. Finally, comfortable that she was stable enough to be brought out of the coma, she was taken off the drugs. We were not sure how she would wake up or if there had been any brain damage. It was the most incredible sight to see her opening her eyes and I was finally able to give her a cuddle. What an amazing feeling!
It was only then doctors established that Jessica's collapse was heart-related and we had to be transferred to the Brisbane Children’s Hospital. From there she continued to recover and was diagnosed with CPVT, a rare heart condition with a heart arrhythmia triggered by adrenaline.
Finally, nearly two weeks after her cardiac arrest she was discharged and we flew home to Melbourne where she remains under the care of the cardiac team at the Royal Children’s Hospital.
Thankfully she has recovered really well with no brain damage at all. We have all started counselling to try to work through the trauma and PTSD. Jessica has returned to school and some activities and is managing her diagnosis and daily medication as well as you could hope for! Even though it was an unspeakably traumatic event, we are so very fortunate that Jessica survived and that we are now aware of her condition. With treatment we can hopefully avoid any further massive cardiac events for her.
It's impossible to put into words the shock and trauma we felt that day. Everything happened so suddenly and quickly. I have very traumatic memories of sitting on the ground next to the ambulance with the helicopter behind us as they worked on Jessica. It felt incredibly surreal. Almost like an out-of body experience; it was too much to comprehend. I was also so grateful that the helicopter was there and the crew were so kind and supportive. I have no doubt that they, along with the first responders, saved Jessica's life.
RACQ CQ Rescue is an absolutely essential service. We are proof that having the availability of the chopper can really mean the difference between life and death.
I hope that people will continue to support the service so that if anyone else is in a position to need them, that they will be there. I wouldn't wish our situation on anyone, but I'm so grateful that CQ Rescue were there for us and got Jessica to hospital for the medical help she needed.”
Sally, Jessica’s mum.