Helen’s urgent flight with RFDS to save her baby

CBH Group is proud to have partnered with the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) for over 10 years, supporting their vital work in rural and remote communities across Western Australia. Today, we share the remarkable story of Helen, a first-time mother-to-be, whose baby’s life was saved by the dedicated crew of the RFDS.

Helen, a stable hand and horse rider from Narrogin, a Wheatbelt town 192 kilometres southeast of Perth, was looking forward to the arrival of her baby. Having done everything right throughout her pregnancy, including taking extra precautions around horses, she was ready for motherhood. But one hot February morning, her life would change dramatically.

While feeding the horses at the stud where she worked, Helen was kicked in the stomach by a horse. The impact occurred right where her baby’s head was positioned. Concerned for her unborn child, Helen's boss immediately drove her to the nearest hospital in Narrogin, where scans revealed that her baby was losing blood. The doctors determined that an urgent transfer was needed to Perth to save the baby’s life.

Helen’s emergency call for help was answered by the RFDS. “The RFDS crew were amazing and calmed me on the flight, assuring me I was in safe hands,” said Helen. The crew’s professionalism and reassurance provided a sense of calm during the critical moments of her journey.

The RFDS Fortescue Heli-Med helicopter flew Helen directly from Narrogin to Perth Children's Hospital in just 40 minutes. From there, she was quickly transferred to King Edward Memorial Hospital, where she underwent a rare intrauterine procedure to save her baby.

“It’s amazing that within just a few hours of my accident, I was more than 200 kilometres away in an operating theatre in Perth undergoing a procedure to save my baby’s life,” Helen said, reflecting on the extraordinary speed and efficiency of the RFDS team.

Seven weeks later, Helen gave birth to a perfectly healthy baby boy, named Theo. 

"I will never forget the part the RFDS played in saving Theo’s life, and words can’t express how grateful I am for the service," Helen said.

Theo’s first Christmas is a reminder of the life-saving work of the RFDS and the incredible support of donors whose contributions help make such miracles possible.

To hear more about Helen's remarkable journey and how the RFDS saved Theo's life, watch the full video here.

At CBH, we are honoured to support the RFDS and celebrate the extraordinary work they do in keeping our communities safe and healthy.