Darkness Descends: Garden Chore Turns to Near-Fatal Trauma for Donna

Donna was doing chores when suddenly, her life was at risk. Luck stopped her from losing a leg, and she might have died. Donna remembers darkness, and then she saw her leg bones. It was Mother’s Day, and she had been enjoying sunshine and gardening before her life changed so quickly.

She cooked dinner and then went to the garden, walking down ten steps before starting to hang laundry. Suddenly, everything went black. She remembered her foot pointing up, saw bones sticking out, and felt blood and bone. She tried to sit but could not move because her arm was stuck and her glasses were broken.

She tripped on the steps and panicked, shouting for her husband who was at the top of the garden. He heard her after a while and saw her lying there over the fence. He saw blood and her foot bone, and ran for his phone, needing to call 999.

Her leg had no pulse, making her fear losing it, and she thought she would die there. Her cries alerted her neighbors who were selling to paramedics, and one paramedic rushed to help, picking up his manager and getting equipment.

They saw that Donna was at high risk, potentially losing her foot and hand, as she had open fractures. This affected her ankle and wrist, and the injuries were limb-threatening. She needed critical care fast, which only the Wales Air Ambulance offered.

The air ambulance flew from Welshpool, and Donna remembers them introducing themselves and saying they’d ease her pain, being very nice to her. Consultant Mike Greenway gave her pain relief, and Oliver Ayles and Simon Cartwright helped too. They used morphine and other drugs, straightening her broken leg and putting it in a splint.

Donna got medicine for bleeding and antibiotics for infection, too. She was stable and went to the Royal Stoke University Hospital where she had surgery that night and another surgery the next day.

Her quick care happened in April 2022, with the 24/7 Critical Care Hub helping a lot. It alerted the Wales Air Ambulance (WAS), who gave her great care onsite. This saved her leg and her life.

Dr. Greenway, who had treated Donna, also worked at the hospital and visited her the next day, which greatly surprised Donna. After surgeries and seventeen days, she went home. She talked about the Air Ambulance, saying she would not be here without them. They help people in danger and offer above standard care, and she is grateful for their help. They saved her life.

Donna got help from the Aftercare Service, where Hayley Whitehead-Wright supported patients and their families after hard events. Donna did not know about aftercare but found it helpful. Now she is in the Patient Forum, where they support each other and give service feedback.

Hayley was a huge help, Donna said, describing her as very caring. Donna feels that aftercare is vital, alongside the medics, and owes them everything.