Penny’s Story

Last summer, a holiday to Whitby turned into a medical emergency for Penny, a 19-month-old toddler who had already faced a life-changing battle before. Less than a year earlier, at just 8 months old, Penny had undergone a lifesaving liver transplant at Birmingham Children’s Hospital. But as her family gathered for a relaxing summer break, Penny’s health suddenly took a turn for the worse.

While on holiday, Penny was admitted to Scarborough Hospital with a suspected bowel blockage. It was clear that her condition was serious, and after two days of tests and assessments, it was decided that Penny needed to be transferred back to Birmingham Children’s Hospital where her original liver and bowel team could provide the urgent care she needed.

Given Penny’s fragile condition following her liver transplant, a road transfer was not an option. That’s where the Children’s Air Ambulance (TCAA) stepped in to ensure Penny reached the vital care she required without delay.

On 22 June, TCAA took flight from its Oxford base to pick up Embrace, the Yorkshire & Humber Infant and Children’s Transport Service, part of Sheffield Children’s NHS Foundation Trust. Along with TCAA’s crew member, the team reached Scarborough Hospital and prepared Penny for the 162-mile journey to Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

“Words cannot express how thankful we are to the Children’s Air Ambulance for being available,” said Penny’s grandmother Mandy Wilsmore, who along with the rest of the family, anxiously followed the flight on Flight Radar. “My heart was most definitely in that helicopter along with the rest of the family, as we tracked her every move until we saw her safely land.”

Penny was flown safely from Scarborough to Birmingham in just one hour, compared to the lengthy three-hour road transfer – not including the potential delays caused by traffic. Alongside Penny was her mum, Grace, who had her own concerns about the journey. As Grace explains, “I get travel sick just thinking about getting on a boat, let alone a helicopter! But the crew were so reassuring, and I felt calm knowing Penny was in the best hands.”

The Children’s Air Ambulance crew and clinical team from Embrace arrived in Birmingham and Penny was immediately seen by her medical team, who discovered that she required further major surgery to address her bowel blockage.

“Without the Children’s Air Ambulance, Penny would have had to endure a much longer and more uncomfortable journey by road, which would have been detrimental to her fragile condition,” Penny’s grandmother reflects. “We are so grateful for their and Embrace’s professionalism and the care they provided.”

The flight, though short, brought immense peace of mind to the family. Penny’s dad, Mark, drove down to Birmingham to meet Grace and daughter later that day, knowing that Penny’s transfer had been handled with the utmost care. “We couldn’t have asked for better care. It was incredible to see Penny safe and sound on the ground,” Mark says.

The speed and efficiency of the Children’s Air Ambulance and Embrace team ensured that Penny was in Birmingham for the lifesaving surgery she urgently needed.

Today, thanks to the teamwork of the Children’s Air Ambulance, Embrace, and the incredible clinical support she received at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Penny is recovering well.

Penny’s family is overwhelmed with gratitude for the Children’s Air Ambulance. “They were there when we needed them most. They’re an invaluable service, and we’re eternally thankful to them for helping bring our little girl to where she needed to urgently be,” said Penny’s grandmother.

Penny’s journey is a powerful reminder of the vital role that the Children’s Air Ambulance plays in providing a pioneering paediatric and neonatal transfer service for critically ill babies and children.

Penny has been recovering well and has since celebrated her second birthday with her family surrounding her and is simply “a super little girl”. Her family continues to be amazed by the speed, professionalism, and kindness of the TCAA crew, and they will forever be grateful for the positive impact it had on their precious Penny.

“We cannot thank the Children’s Air Ambulance enough,” Penny’s grandmother says. “They made a world of difference in our lives.”