My Medical Emergency: Jessie Magarey
Posted on 20-Nov-2011
I had been in Brisbane for an appointment and had rushed to get the Nambour express train at Roma Street. It had been a warm day and wearing a full leg caliper made walking difficult. I made it with seconds to spare and settled in for the 2 hour ride home. After an hour, I noticed a raw sensation in my throat and neck pain for a few minutes. This feeling passed and I dismissed it. At the Glasshouse Mountains station I became a little nauseated and hot and put all this down to a bug of some kind. At the Palmwoods stop, I was becoming very unwell with arm, throat and neck pain. I knew I was in trouble but didn't have chest pain. I thought about pressing the emergency button but couldn't get up and the pains worsened. A very sharp intense pain occurred under my left shoulder blade and I knew then I had coronary pain. This pain intensified. There was no-one in my carriage so I sat quietly and took slow deep breaths knowing I was getting close to Nambour and the hospital. Nambour station was packed with people and school kids so I slowly made my way to my car. The hospital was approximately five minutes away and there was a disabled park right out front that was lifesaving for me.
The staff at Nambour Hospital Emergency Department were fantastic even though it was very crowded and busy. The receptionist knew I was in trouble as soon as she saw me and took me to the triage nurse. Bloods were taken, clothes removed, ECG stickers applied and drugs given. All this was done in a corridor as there was no beds available. The cardiologist told me that I was having a heart attack but as the clot busting medications weren't working decided on a CT scan. He diagnosed coronary occlusion and told me I would be flown to Prince Charles Hospital.
I was prepared for transfer and wheeled to the car park roof for the flight. Due to the morphine I had been given, I was quite relaxed knowing there was nothing I could do about the situation and that I was in good hands. I can remember being awake and looking at the stars and wondering how that was possible until a nurse told me where I was. The paramedic from the AGL Action Rescue Helicopter introduced himself and told me what was happening. I can remember seeing the helicopter and being grateful that it was available for me. People were working quickly and I was carefully put in the helicopter. Within moments, I had earmuffs on and was told that if the pain increased to tell my paramedic by way of a thumbs down sign or thumbs up if I was ok.
The helicopter pilot had started the rotors and we sat there for a few minutes while checks were done and then gently lifted off. It was an amazing sensation (probably due to the morphine) and I wished I could have seen more. The flight was fast and comfortable. The paramedic was constantly monitoring me and asking how I was (thumbs up or down). I can vividly recall his eyes, long eyelashes and helmet as that was all that I could see. He was very reassuring. We landed at Prince Charles Hospital helipad (in 20 minutes) and the back doors of the helicopter opened. I was given more medication at this stage and woke up again the Cath/Lab looking at a surgeon. I didn't have a chance to thank the crew for saving my life and the wonderful care I was given.
You see the rescue helicopters on the news quite often but don't really realise how important they are until you yourself need one.
Jessie Magarey, Nambour
