In February 2023, Gracie Kinnear’s family felt the world was ‘slowly collapsing’ after their little girl was involved in a tragic accident. Emma and Martyn were unsure if their little girl would survive her injuries.
It was a school half-term holiday that Gracie’s family will never be able to erase from their memory. A fun day playing with her family and friends quickly turned into a heart-wrenching situation for Gracie and her parents.
The four-year-old was outside playing on her bike with a friend, supervised by her mum Emma, when she was struck by a van.
Thanks to the Wales Air Ambulance, Gracie survived her injuries and is here to celebrate another Christmas with her parents and older brother.
Emma said: “Sadly, Gracie had an accident on her pushbike involving a delivery van. We rushed our beautiful daughter to Glangwili Hospital, where the Wales Air Ambulance medics were waiting. If it wasn’t for them, my daughter most likely would not be here today.”
After assessing Gracie, the Wales Air Ambulance medics sedated her and inserted a breathing tube.
An X-ray showed that she had a collapsed lung. The medics made a small incision between her ribs and inserted a tube to release the pressure.
It soon became apparent that Gracie, from Caramarthen, was extremely sick and she needed a blood transfusion due to internal bleeding.
Emma continued: “Our world was slowly collapsing around us. We were unsure of whether our little girl would survive.”
Wales Air Ambulance consultant Dr Jon Birks said: “It was clear when we first saw her that she had sustained major injuries. As specialists in major trauma, we took over her care and gave her a general anaesthetic. We then placed her on a ventilator to take over her breathing and protect her brain.
“We also made a small incision between her ribs to release air from a collapsed lung, and then performed a blood transfusion.
“Gracie was an incredibly poorly little girl. As a father myself, seeing a family’s world fall apart is heartbreaking.”
Once stabilised, Gracie was transferred by road ambulance, with the Wales Air Ambulance medics on board, to the hospital in Cardiff.
The treatments Gracie received from the Wales Air Ambulance are typically only available in hospital emergency departments. However, thanks to the unique third-sector and public-sector partnership between the Wales Air Ambulance Charity and Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS), she received advanced care before being transferred to the University Hospital of Wales Neurosurgical and Paediatric Trauma Centre.
The Wales Air Ambulance team that day included Dr Jamie Vassallo and Critical Care Practitioner Connor Morgans, alongside Dr Jon Birks.
During the trip to Cardiff, Gracie needed another blood transfusion, performed by the Wales Air Ambulance team.
Upon arrival at the hospital, paediatric and major trauma teams took over Gracie’s care.
Emma said: “It was every parent’s worst nightmare. One moment she was happily riding her bike, and the next she was fighting for her life – and that’s what our Gracie had to do, fight!”
Gracie’s recovery was slow to begin with. She was placed into a coma, where it was touch-and-go for five days.
She had life-threatening injuries, including a broken scapula, broken ribs, broken pelvis, and lacerations to her liver. She also had a shattered right kidney, which needed to be removed.
Whilst in hospital, Gracie underwent surgery and the family didn’t know what her prognosis would be.
Grateful Emma said: “She also had surgery on her ear and head, which is healing very well, although she won’t ever regain her hair where she’s lost it. Gracie will need care and checks for her right kidney for the rest of her life. We hope to never need medical intervention, but it is a possibility in the future. That said, it’s a small price to pay to have her with us today.
“The Wales Air Ambulance has given us the greatest gift of all; they’ve given Gracie a future. Something that we will forever be grateful for. The memories we make and beyond would never have been possible without them.
“You never know when you or your loved ones might need their emergency care. Without them, Gracie wouldn’t be here. There is no doubt about it.”
After her recovery, Gracie met the medics who helped save her life. Dr Jon Birks said: “To have met Gracie again, full of life, is incredibly humbling.”
