Guilden Morden family’s thanks to emergency services who saved Edie’s life
Edie Appleby with her card, that was sent to her by the Magpas Air Ambulance charity, who helped get her emergency treatment when she was seriously ill. - Credit: Archant
A Guilden Morden family has thanked the Magpas Air Ambulance and other emergency staff whose quick actions saved the life of their nine-year-old daughter.
Edie Appleby, aged nine, with brother Fred, 10, and sister Peggy, two. - Credit: Archant
When Edie Appleby – who has neurological disorder Rett syndrome – started suffering breathing problems at home and wouldn’t wake up, mum Claire knew they needed help fast.
She told the Crow: “Edie was quite lethargic and not a happy bunny, so I asked my mother-in-law to help get my other children off to school.
“Edie then began having severe problems breathing, and wouldn’t wake up. I called 999 and they were brilliant, it was such a fast response, and they said the air ambulance was on its way.
“When you think of air ambulances you think of car accidents, not something like this.
“It was so surreal. I’ve kept playing it back in my head, thinking was I not panicked enough – and I felt like I was reading from a script when I was explaining what was happening.”
Edie’s brother Fred saw the air ambulance fly over his school, but didn’t know it was landing nearby to help save his sister’s life.
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Claire said: “The MAGPAS doctor Sam got fluids and antibiotics into her quickly, and without that things would have been very different.
“Edie went in an ambulance to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, and went straight to resus. You could see she was on the mend, she gave me the ‘side-eye’ – and for Edie, who is non-verbal, that’s when I could tell she was improving.”
Remarkably, Edie – who can’t walk and also has epilepsy and scoliosis – only spent one night at the hopsital before she was able to go home with Claire, dad Danny, brother Fred, 10, and little sister Peggy, two.
Claire said: “We know we will probably be in this situation again because of Edie’s condition, but she gets through it, she always smiles, and you hear about people who complain about what they don’t have. Edie has so much to moan about but she never does.
“Words cannot express how grateful I am for the excellent care that Edie received from Sam and Dan from Magpas – as well as the other emergency services that came to her aid. It’s so important that this charity is invested in, because it could be your loved one who needs help one day. I am totally in awe of and thank them from the bottom of my heart.”
To support Magpas visit www.magpas.org.uk/donate-now.
