Car crash victim to fundraise for Critical Care Unit at QEHB

Sarah Worthington was involved in a car accident in September 2011 in Shropshire where she was told her injuries were too severe to be treated at Shrewsbury Hospital, so she had to be transferred to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham by the Midlands Air Ambulance.

Sarah was cut out of her car by the fire service and rushed by the air ambulance to QEHB where she was treated on the Critical Care Unit for three weeks.

The extent of Sarah’s injuries included, to broken femurs, lung contusion which caused an embolism on her lung, and broken ribs. Her legs were put in traction for four days as no operation could take place until the embolism on her lung has disappeared.

Sarah said: “The day following the operation I was quite unwell and needed two blood transfusions. The care that I received from the nurses and health care assistants on the ward was amazing, I was only 23 and away from my family and friends and felt terrified but they really helped me.”

For a few months following Sarah’s discharge from the hospital, she was in a wheelchair whilst her legs recovered from the surgery, but unfortunately, her left leg had some complications which meant the bone in her femur did not fuse back together. She had to return to QEHB eighteen months later to have her current metal rod removed and a new one put in. She said: “Again I was so well looked after, I wasn’t even scared about going back for another operation as I had been so well cared for the first time around.”

To help do her bit in raising money for QEHB Charity and the Critical Care Unit, Sarah is taking part in the Saving Lives Challenge which the Charity has partnered with Midlands Air Ambulance Charity on. The challenge will consist of having two static bikes and a treadmill running for 12 hours a day for five days a week. The challenge will take place in the main entrance of QEHB so will hopefully attract a lot of attention and donations to the two worthy causes.

Talking about taking part in the challenge, Sarah said: “I’ve always wanted to do something to raise money for these amazing charities, without whom, I may not be here today.

“After my second operation I changed my perspective on life and now have a bit of a ‘life’s too short’ attitude, so since my last operation in 2013, I changed my career, got married, bought a house and had a baby who is now two and a half! Now I am more settled I would love to give something back to these very important charities who helped me so much.”

Sophie Carroll, Senior Fundraiser for Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity, said: “A huge thank you to Sarah for taking part in the Savings Lives Challenge with us and Midlands Air Ambulance Charity. The challenge will be raising money for the air ambulance and the Critical Care Unit at QEHB.

“The Critical Care Unit work around the clock, seven days a week. With people’s help and donations the Charity will be able to provide patients, staff and families on the unit with those ‘added extras’ that go over and above that which the NHS can fund.”

To find out more about the Savings Lives Challenge, to take part or to donate, please click here.