First time parents Emma and Tom spent months at the hospital while Ella made progress, and before long she was able to return to her Lakewood home.

However, in June Ella developed a chest infection, due to her weak lungs and chronic lung condition.

“Ella was two months old at the time but because she was born premature, she’s actually six months old. So she would have been two months corrected when she fell sick,” Emma said.

Ella saw a doctor on the Friday and by Monday morning the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service was flying her to Newcastle for extra breathing support.

“The doctor said it was bronchiolitis and that it usually follows a pattern of good and bad.

On Saturday night her breathing got worse so on Sunday morning we took her straight over to the hospital.”

As their first child, Emma and Tom were in a world of unknown and found Westpac provided some light.

“The whole experience with Westpac was really good they were very helpful.

“To start off with we were supposed to get in another helicopter but we ran out of time to load her in. Then Westpac Rescue Helicopter stepped in to collect her,” Emma said.

After an hour flight Emma and Ella arrived at John Hunter Hospital safe and sound.

Tom said he found Westpac to be professional and caring.

“When we got to the helicopter Ella’s bed was facing the wrong way around, they had to lift it and spin it around and to them it was no problem.

“They went above and beyond to make sure we were cared for. It was also a free service and in a time like that it really helps,” Tom said.

Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service is celebrating its 41^st year of operation.