Helicopters close to our hearts

Allana and Russell Penwarden praise Westpac Waikato Air Ambulance for helping to save baby Isabella's life. Photo / Alan Gibson

Allana Penwarden should have been celebrating the birth of her second child, Isabella.

It was a few weeks before Christmas last year and her new baby girl, with blue eyes and a crop of red hair, appeared healthy.

But the Hamilton secondary school teacher's maternal instincts warned her something was not right.

"I felt like I noticed something straight away with her breathlessness and I asked one of the nurses to take a look at her," said Mrs Penwarden.

"About an hour later, she started to turn blue."

Paediatric staff raced the infant to Waikato Hospital's intensive care unit and shortly after, the diagnosis came back: Isabella had transposition of the great arteries - a congenital heart defect. Her aorta and pulmonary arteries were reversed.

"At first, I thought she would just need some oxygen and we would be able to go," said Mrs Penwarden.

"But the worst moment was when [husband] Russ looked at me and said, 'There's something wrong with her heart'."

Mrs Penwarden said hospital staff quickly realised the required surgery was beyond their capabilities.

Isabella and her dad were flown by the Westpac Waikato Air Ambulance to a team of surgeons at the Starship in Auckland.

"The helicopter team stopped and explained everything to us," said Mrs Penwarden. "People kept filling us with information about what was happening. These were critical moments, and it may sound a cliche but these people really were lifesavers and we are so grateful."

Isabella was among the 5073 people who required emergency medical assistance last year from one of the 16 helicopter trusts operating in New Zealand.

The rescue helicopters are fully equipped intensive care units offering a free around-the-clock service, which last year was activated every two hours.

But it is an expensive business, costing up to $5000 an hour depending on staff and distance requirements.

The helicopters rely largely on community and business support as they are only partially funded by the Accident Compensation Corporation and district health boards, and then only for some missions.

Mark Graham, Westpac's national sponsorship manager, said the Westpac Chopper Appeal had raised $1 million for the first time in its five-year history.

And money is still coming in.

"It just shows how close the service is to New Zealanders' hearts, and how many lives it touches."

Mr Graham said all the money raised would go to the rescue helicopters, as Westpac covered the campaign expenses.

"Every dollar is for the 5000-odd New Zealanders who will need this service next year," he said.

Isabella underwent a successful switch operation nearly two weeks after being admitted to the Starship and has recovered "remarkably well" since.