Joyce's Story

Popping across the street to see a friend, buy a packet of biscuits and post a birthday card, Joyce’s day started out like any other. But within minutes a bone-shattering fall on some treacherous black ice turned a routine day into a hell of pain and fear she will never forget.

Joyce, who owns and runs the Old Bank Bookshop in Wigtown with husband Ian, fractured her shoulder in four places in the fall as she crashed down onto the edge of the pavement. And as she swept in and out of consciousness with excruciating pain, a rescue drama was unfolding in a bid to get Joyce safely and quickly to hospital from one of the more remote regions in Scotland.

“There were so many people there,” she recalls. “I remember two local GPs and some ambulance crew - all asking questions, trying to stabilise me, move me into the ambulance and control my pain.

“I remember the paramedics being on the radio asking for help and then they said they were going to attempt the journey to Dumfries - very slowly. They didn’t know what damage had been done to my neck and head - I was scared, really very scared.”

Within minutes the ambulance was forced to stop near the local Primary School as Joyce’s condition fluctuated and the pain grew extreme. The tortuous one-and-a-half-hour journey became less of an option. Soon Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance was in the air and heading her way.

“I could hear the helicopter arriving. Suddenly the SCAA paramedics were there - extremely efficient and reassuring. They knew I was frightened but made me feel reassured. When I was in the helicopter it was the most comfortable I had been all day and within 20 minutes I was handed over to hospital staff.”

Joyce is all too aware that although this mission for SCAA might not have been a life-saver, it was definitely a life-changer.

“The idea of that road journey in my condition doesn’t bear thinking about. There is no question in my mind that SCAA’s attention that day aided my recovery. I could have lost two or more years getting back to strength instead of just nine months. Our business and my family would have suffered. The bookshop could have faced temporary closure - that is how much I value what SCAA did for me.”

Growing up and now living in a rural area, Joyce says her experience has driven home the dependency such communities have on services like SCAA.

“All the people who rallied round to help me were magnificent but SCAA made the real difference on the day. I feel very humbled and emotional that they were there for me. We are all so vulnerable and - for many - SCAA will make the difference between life and death. Scotland simply can’t do without them."

When accidents happen, it’s kind supporters like you who make sure help gets there in time.