It’s still tough for Maria to speak about the night her husband used the Westpac Rescue Helicopter. She tells the story, because he can’t remember it and she feels it’s important people are more aware of meningitis.
“We really thought we were going to lose him. The Westpac Rescue Helicopter made a huge difference for our family,” Maria says.
The beginning of Blair’s illness was fairly non-eventful. It was November 2024 and the crop farmer from Ashburton had caught COVID, as had his two young girls. The girls were getting better, but Blair was still battling.
“He usually watches Clarkson’s Farm and laughs his head off, but he wasn’t finding it amusing, so I knew he wasn’t feeling great,” Maria says.
Later that night, Blair started vomiting.
“I thought it was all part of COVID and that it would take its course. I didn’t realise he was delirious until he fell over and wasn’t able to communicate with me.”
It was then that Maria made the decision that probably saved her husband’s life. She rang the ambulance. It was 3 am.
“While waiting for the ambulance Blair started screaming in pain and holding his head. When the ambulance arrived, he was very distressed, flailing around. He had no idea what was going on around him. My youngest was now awake and getting upset that dad wasn’t okay”.
Blair’s parents came over to look after the girls while Blair was rushed to Ashburton Hospital.
“Looking back, I was in a daze while in the Ashburton Hospital Emergency Department that night. We had two senior doctors and a junior doctor giving Blair 100% of their attention. They guessed it could be meningitis and gave him a high strength antibiotic, but he needed specialist intensive care, which was only available in Christchurch.”
The Doctor’s feared Blair was about to stop breathing, so they intubated him – putting a tube down his airway so they could breathe for him.
“I don’t think they had time to wait for the ICU team. I will always be truly grateful to them.”
The Westpac Rescue Helicopter arrived with staff from Christchurch Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Together with the rescue helicopter crew they stabilised Blair enough for the helicopter ride to Christchurch Hospital.
“It’s still a bit of a blur how that all happened. I had just been told my husband could have died but I know I was very thankful he was on that helicopter.”
At Christchurch Hospital, Blair was admitted to the ICU where he was kept in a coma for two days.
“My best friend is lying unresponsive in a bed and all I wanted to do is call him to talk about what had been happening, but I couldn’t.
“I remember a team of doctors standing around his bed when they brought him out of the coma, just looking at him and then me. I think they got as much joy as I did seeing him come back to us.
“The first thing Blair said when he came around was to ask if his wheat had been collected from the silos. It was such a relief to know that he was back and that his brain was functioning. I know we were truly blessed, not everyone has the same outcome.”
Doctors believe an infection in Blair’s ears, following COVID, sparked the bacterial meningitis infection which travelled to his brain.
Today, Maria says Blair is back to his old self – mostly.
“Being on a farm is good because he’s got lots of quiet space and can control when he works and when he rests, but if he’s around lots of people or stimulation he still gets exhausted.”
Maria is sharing Blair’s story to recognise those who saved his life, and to highlight the dangers of meningitis.
“This disease travels so fast. I want people to know to never be frightened to call an ambulance – even in the middle of the night. Don’t wait, if your gut tells you something is not right, trust it and get help.”
Maria credits the staff at Ashburton Hospital, the Westpac Rescue Helicopter and her middle-of-the-night 111 call with saving Blair’s life.
“The doctors at Ashburton Hospital were amazing and the speed at which the rescue helicopter and specialist ICU staff arrived blew me away. I have no doubt Blair is here today because of what they all did. Our family can’t thank them enough.”
If you would like more information about meningitis and its symptoms or need any support you can visit www.meningitis.org.nz or email info@meningitis.org.nz.
