This year, BASICS Devon is taking part in the Big Give Christmas Challenge, the UK’s biggest online match funding campaign. We’re hoping to raise vital funds for our project which is to enable us to get and maintain our very own Emergency Response Vehicle, to help save lives across Devon.
We need to access critical, isolated, sick and injured patients fast, to ease pain and suffering and save lives. Our lifesaving volunteer doctors will be able to reach remote communities with ease, safely and quickly, in all weather and in most cases arrive before the ambulance. Below is Jennifer Bowerman, her husband Matt and her two sons, Max and Frederick.
On Friday 27th July 2018, whilst home alone, Jennifer suffered a major placental abruption at 35 weeks pregnant.
“That particular day started like any other, but at 4pm, my husband Matt left to collect Max and without warning, I felt a massive gush whilst hoovering the stairs.”
Assuming that her waters had broken, she continued on up the stairs to the bathroom. On doing so, it came as a big surprise that rather than seeing clear, amniotic fluid, she saw a considerable amount of blood.
“Taking a moment to sink in, it dawned on me suddenly that the initial sensation I first felt, was in fact still gushing and I very quickly realised I was in trouble. I hurriedly made my way downstairs, and eyes beginning to roll to the back of my head, I managed to phone 999.”
Fortunately, a local paramedic crew and a specialist BASICS Devon Doctor arrived first on the scene, responding to a blanket call for help only minutes away from her remote village home. They immediately began intense treatment and liaised with the local Hospital. Most importantly keeping her calm whilst she was battling with the shock and panic of losing her baby.
The abruption was one of the most extreme cases, resulting in a blood loss of almost 80% of her total blood volume. 33 minutes after arriving at the hospital, her baby boy was born, a complete miracle that he survived. Jennifer learned that the BASICS Doctor who treated her was in fact a volunteer…
‘Without the BASICS Devon volunteer’s dedication, expertise, professionalism, quick response and forward thinking it would have been a very different outcome. Our little boy is a daily reminder of how lucky I am.
Every smile, every laugh, is thanks to BASICS Devon and the SWASFT team. Thanks for all the weekends, the Christmases, for the time, commitment, and for all the daily sacrifices you make. Every day you leave your families to save families like ours, and for that we will be eternally grateful.’
Jennifer Bowerman
How can you help save people like Jennifer and baby Frederick?
We need our loyal supporters to help us reach our target of £2000 in online donations. You can donate online from Tuesday 1st December #GivingTuesday until Midday on Tuesday 8th December and your donation will be doubled. One single click, but double the impact! Click HERE to donate
If you can, it will help us attend traumas like Jennifer’s anytime, anywhere across Devon, when seconds count. BASICS doctors are senior decision makers, carrying enhanced pain relief, equipment and can undertake specialist surgical procedures at the scene. We want to help reduce response times, the chance of long-term disability and save lives.
What is the Christmas Challenge?
The Christmas Challenge (the UK’s biggest online match funding campaign) helps UK-registered charities to raise funds for their projects by doubling donations when the campaign goes live on 1st December. You can find full details of the Christmas Challenge on theBigGive.org.uk. Research shows that 84% of donors are more likely to give in a match funding campaign and that donations are on average 2.5 times bigger so we’re very excited about taking part.
Please don’t hesitate to ask if you have any questions about the Christmas Challenge.
We cannot do this without you, so thank you for taking the time to read this and for your continued support.
Best wishes,
Amie Bull
Fundraising Manager
T:01752 936299
E: amie.bull@basics-devon.org.uk
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