Fundraiser thanks staff who helped save her life
On 12 September 2015 Naomi Dobson got onto her horse Lawrence. What followed next shocked both herself and her family.
Like any other day Naomi and Lawrence, an eventer horse, were practising in the arena at Naomi’s home grounds. Eventing is an equestrian event where a single horse and rider compete against other combinations across the three disciplines of dressage, cross-country, and show jumping. It was during the jumping event that things took a drastic turn for the worse. On looked by her groom Lou Burns, Lawrence knocked a fence down, tripped and fell, falling on top of Naomi.
The average weight of an adult horse can be between 380-1,000kg, the trauma caused by this fall called for rapid response from the emergency air service. Naomi said "My memory of the whole day and next three weeks had gone", she was told by her family and friends that the West Midlands Air Ambulance were sent with a trauma team in quick succession. Naomi was diagnosed with a pneumothorax, which is a collection of free air in the chest cavity that causes the lung to collapse. Once flown over by air ambulance, Naomi’s family were told that she had a GCS (Glasgow Coma Scale) of 3, meaning that she was in a comatose state after sustaining a diffuse axonal brain injury.
Whilst she was in a coma for two weeks, Naomi was looked after remarkably well by the staff at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. During her stay her parents made regular visits from Sussex as did her two young son’s Theo and Alife. The following month Naomi made a fantastic recovery and after a month of rehabilitation she was able to go home to her family in the November.
After her recovery, Naomi decided to raise money for Midlands Air Ambulance and Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham by taking part in the Saving Lives Challenge. The Saving Lives Challenge is taking place at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham to support the critically injured and ill patients whose lives are saved by the two organisations for an epic, week-long static bike challenge! Participants will be cycling or running around the clock from 08:00am on Monday 26 November to 16:00pm on Friday 30 November.
Naomi said: “I appreciate the life-saving role the Midlands Air Ambulance plays across the West Midlands. I am now determined to raise funds for the air ambulance service and the hospital.
Three years on I still suffer with horrid fatigue, balance issues, brain fog and reduced sensation in my right limbs. However, I was back on a horse after six months; I ride daily, walk my dogs daily and swim. I am just so delighted to be able to do something to help raise awareness and funds.”
Sophie Carroll, Senior Fundraiser for QEHB Charity said: “On behalf of the Charity I would like to say a huge thank you to Naomi for taking part in this event. Her determination to complete an epic challenge such as this after overcoming such a horrific accident is a testament to her and I would like to wish her the best of luck for the Saving Lives Challenge!”
If you'd like to learn more about the amazing teams who save lives on a daily basis at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham and the Midlands Air Ambulance, then come along to the hospital during the challenge or visit the JustGiving page here.
You can sign up to be part of this amazing challenge by contacting Sophie Carroll on sophie.carroll@uhb.nhs.uk or by calling 0121 371 4852
The money raised from this incredible event will be split between QEHB Charity and the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity.