“Time was running out. My little girl would never make the journey by road to hospital. I thought I was going to lose her.”
A series of seizures had left one-year-old Cora requiring specialist life-saving medicine on order at the local chemist. So, when the toddler started fitting again before the prescription arrived, her mother Katrina knew it was a race against time to save the youngster’s life.
“Cora had been prescribed the rescue meds, but it was her first prescription and a specialist drug that the chemist didn’t have in stock,” explained Katrina. “Unfortunately, she took another fit before supplies reached us.
“I was on my own at home with her and her two-year-old sister – 45 minutes’ drive from hospital at Aberdeen.
“I tried not to panic but inside I was screaming. I knew how serious it was and I knew that every second brought her closer to permanent brain damage or death. I knew if an ambulance was coming from Aberdeen, they just wouldn’t reach us in time. I was terrified. We couldn’t lose her – we just couldn’t.”
Katrina dialled 999 and explained the emergency.
“They kept me calm and said that help was on its way.
“I held Cora so that she wouldn’t hurt herself, but I never took my eyes off the clock,” explained Katrina. “We had been through so much with Cora that we knew that 20 minutes into a seizure could result in brain damage – longer than that and it could kill her.”
Unknown to Katrina, Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) had already taken off from its Aberdeen base with a specialist doctor-led team on board with all the necessary kit, medication and skills to save the little girl’s life.
“I had no idea there was a helicopter coming until I heard it landing in a field next to the house,” said Katrina.
“Suddenly there were doctors and paramedics taking over and I felt this huge sense of relief. It was all a bit overwhelming really. I knew they could save Cora and I’ve never been so truly grateful to any group of people in my life.”
After life-saving treatment at the house, little Cora was taken by road ambulance to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, accompanied by the doctor SCAA had airlifted to the scene.
Three months later, the two little sisters were bridesmaids when their Mum and Dad (Sandy) married at Aberdeen and then headed off on a family “honeymoon” to Spain.
Shaken by the experience, the family has now moved to be nearer emergency care for Cora should she need it.
The family is also taking part in fundraising for SCAA and Katrina’s workmates at Serica Energy – both land-based and those on the oil platforms – are supporting the charity following little Cora’s scare.
“SCAA brought lifesaving help to Cora within 15 minutes of my initial call,” she said. “Without them we could have lost our little girl.
“They saved her life – how can you ever repay that? They brought her back to me and probably saved my life as well. Everyone wants to help ensure they’re available for the next little one that needs them.”
