A MOTHER has taken on a fundraising challenge to thank those who helped save the life of her eight-week-old baby.
Laura Turner, from Reading, was heading to a baby music group with her son Charlie Green in September 2018 when he suddenly stopped breathing. He had blood running from his nose.
Ms Turner had been on a baby first aid course during her pregnancy and after dialling 999 was able to begin rescue breaths on Charlie.
“He had gone grey and floppy, honestly, I thought he was gone,” she said.
“I remember Charlie started breathing slowly on his own while I was waiting, so I held him in the baby recovery position so the blood didn’t go into his airway.
“A South Central Ambulance Service call handler talked me through things and told me that Charlie could hear me and to reassure him.”
An SCAS crew and Thames Valley Air Ambulance arrived within six minutes and took over. Charlie was stabilised before being taken to the Royal Berkshire Hospital. He was put on a ventilator and transferred to the paediatric intensive care unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.
Charlie stayed at the John Radcliffe for a week. He made a full recovery with no developmental concerns, despite the need for resuscitation and ventilation.
Ms Turner will be joined on the fundraising challenge by Charlie, now age three.
“He is a bright, happy, sociable boy who loves riding his bike, swimming and anything to do with cars — his dad Adam and I are so proud of him every single day,” she said
“We are so grateful for the excellent care he received from SCAS, TVAA and both hospitals.
“We wanted to give something back to say thank you.”
Ms Turner and Charlie decided to take part in this year’s outrun an ambulance virtual challenge, which asks supporters to cover more miles than an emergency ambulance does in a single shift. Reading ambulances cover 90 miles in a typical shift, while those based in Bracknell cover 155 miles.
The time frame to complete the distance and the way it is covered can be decided by participants. The aim is that methods are self-propelled. Examples include walking, running, swimming, cycling and scooting.
“Charlie and I chose the mileage of a Reading ambulance,” Ms Turner explained.
“He will ride his bike and I will run, and we are aiming to complete it in as little time as we can.”
Vanessa Casey, chief executive of South Central Ambulance Charity, said that it is “lovely” to see Charlie doing well. She thanked the family for their support and said: “This is such an amazing story and we hope it inspires more people to sign up.”
For more information, visit: www.outrunanambulance.co.uk and click on Berkshire.
