Rudy’s Story

Rudy was just a few hours old when he needed the air ambulance. His father, Jago, tells his story:

“Rudy was born at 12.24pm in a planned home birth with our wonderful midwife Layla. At 6.15pm that evening my wife Alex noticed he was having breathing difficulties. We called the midwife who immediately returned to the house, having examined him she called both the paramedics and the air ambulance. The paramedics arrived and confirmed he needed to go to hospital. Moments later the air ambulance landed on the playing field in the middle of our village in St Mabyn. My wife went with Rudy in the helicopter and my dad drove me to Treliske. Alex recalls the crew being very kind to her on the flight, as she felt sick and thinking that Rudy looked very small- despite weighing a hefty 10lb 1 oz. One of the crew helped her carry her bag into the hospital while the others ran ahead with Rudy.

“Rudy had a group B strep infection in his lungs that could have proved fatal if it had spread to his bloodstream. The doctors at Treliske told us that the air ambulance had made all the difference, it quite literally saved his life. While in hospital it was discovered that he also had a rare heart condition (supra ventricular tachycardia), which he was treated for and has now grown out of. We both recall being told that the air ambulance crew had called the ward to find out how Rudy was. It’s a vital service for the county.”

Rudy is now a healthy 10-year-old. Jago runs his own illustration business and this year is selling some of his son’s artwork to help him raise money for Cornwall Air Ambulance.

He added: “Rudy is very keen on drawing. Earlier in the year, inspired by all the rainbows for the NHS he drew an illustration, which I then coloured and we offered it for sale on my online shop. I agreed with Rudy that he could have half the profits and we would donate the other half to the air ambulance.  He was very excited to be selling his own artwork and we now have his design available on cards, as well as three different sizes of prints.”