Norfolk mum's thanks to staff that saved her baby's life

Crew with baby Alana   Norfolk patient meet up

A Norfolk mum has said an emotional thank you to the crew involved in saving her daughter’s life during a dramatic home birth.

Within four hours of going into labour at her home in Poringland, near Norwich, Sharon Heelas gave birth, with paramedics Dave Killingback and Nick Ball acting as emergency midwives.

Baby Alana’s arrival was not as straightforward as hoped, after being born with her umbilical cord wrapped twice around her neck and not breathing.

Paramedic Dave and Student Paramedic Nick attended and it was the first time in Dave’s eight-year career that he’d had to resuscitate a baby.

Dave said: “Alana was blue and floppy and I asked for a second ambulance and air ambulance to attend. I started giving mouth to mouth and after five breaths I could feel a slow heartbeat.”

After 10 more minutes of mouth to mouth, Alana took her first unaided gasps and let out her first cry.

“It felt like an eternity, but it was amazing to hear her cry and we were so relieved. They [her parents] knew something was not right, but they did not panic.”

The duo were reunited with Alana and her parents Sharon and James on Friday (16th January).

“It is lovely to see her now. We do lots of calls, but we will never forget this one. It was really nice to find out she was okay,” said Dave.

Sharon, 36, who has two other children, Scarlett, 7, and Freddie, 4, and has a fear of hospitals, said: “It is no doubt that without the emergency ambulance service’s quick response, on all counts, that I would not be sat cradling my beautiful healthy daughter in my arms now.

“We are so lucky to have her. I am so grateful and will be forever indebted to them.”

Paramedic Steve Wilson, Emergency Care Assistant David Forbes and Student Paramedic Rose Sayer also attended. Well done to all involved!

Published 24th January 2015 

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