The Power of Aftercare
“Stephen Wheatley was a giver throughout his life. He served as a highly respected Police Officer, before retiring and moving to East Anglia to focus on his gardening, Harley Davidson and to live a quieter life with his wife, Sue. He loved both his children and grandchildren, but most of all, he was as madly in love with Sue on his last day, as he was on his first day.” Joseph Wheatley, Stephen’s son.
Stephen suffered a cardiac arrest in 2023. Trained in CPR, Sue immediately started chest compressions, fearful of how long it could take help to arrive as they lived in such a rural location. In the meantime, the Anglia Two (Cambridge) crew from East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) were tasked to assist the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST). Stephen was taken to hospital. Sadly, despite the best efforts of Sue, EEAST and the EAAA crew, he passed away.
In the days and months that followed, Sue and her family received support from EAAA’s Aftercare team – a dedicated team of clinicians who are available to provide practical and emotional support to those involved in medical emergencies attended by EAAA. This service wouldn’t be possible without the donations and kindness of EAAA supporters. Sue found the phone calls and home visits invaluable in helping her to navigate her grief.
“Lisa, from EAAA’s Aftercare team was so lovely and reassuring from the start that it supported me to grieve in a better way. Lisa showed me the time logs from the day; it only took 11 minutes for an ambulance, and just 15 minutes for the air ambulance to arrive. I thought Stephen had died straight away, but Lisa helped me to realised that, because of what I did, he had a chance – and because of the CPR I’d performed, Stephen was able to become an organ donor.”
Stephen’s son, Joe, adds: “He was an inspiration to all, and he would do anything for anyone. He was a giver and a great man to the end. But still, he gave more... His liver was donated to a young lady just nineteen years old, and his kidneys went to a seventy-year-old lady and to a lady in her forties.”
Sue even received a letter from one of the recipients. “Lisa gave me the strength to write back. All these little things helped me to chip away at finding a new way forward.”
““At the start, when everything was so raw, I just wanted to know if there was something more I could have done, and to shut down. EAAA’s Aftercare service made me feel so supported and helped me to understand that I couldn’t have done anymore.””
Sue has since felt able to push forward with a catering business that she and Stephen had planned and has since joined EAAA’s Patient Forum Group – a dedicated group which offers valuable feedback and insights to EAAA’s service. She has also become a volunteer with the charity, helping at flagship fundraising events.
“You never know when you might need the air ambulance. I didn’t realise that it was a charity and dependant on the support of the public. Once they touch your life, you’re hooked.”
Sue continues: “At the start, when everything was so raw, I just wanted to know if there was something more I could have done, and to shut down. EAAA’s Aftercare service made me feel so supported and helped me to understand that I couldn’t have done anymore.”
Nothing is possible without you
EAAA’s service to local communities goes far beyond the critical care it brings to the incident scene. We constantly strive to do our best for those we serve – that’s why our Aftercare Team of experienced clinicians provide invaluable support to local people and their loved ones in the turbulent aftermath of a life changing incident, helping them make the difficult transition back to daily life.
Not only can your support give patients the best possible chance of surviving a life-threatening emergency, but, as the Wheatley family’s story demonstrates so powerfully, you can also provide the emotional and practical help families need after the incident.
If you feel encouraged and inspired by the impact of our community and would like to discuss ways you can be involved, please do get in touch. Together, we can be there for more families when they need us the most.
A heartfelt thank you to Sue and Joe for sharing their story and their very special memories of Stephen.