A YOUNG teen who was told she would never ride a bike again has walked to the top of Mount Snowdon to raise funds for the charity which saved her life.
Rosie Jeffs, 13, has defied doctors since she was thrown off the back of her dad Jamie’s motorcycle when he had to brake suddenly in April 2017.
Despite wearing protective clothing and a helmet, she suffered 10 breaks and fractures to her right femur, tibia, fibula, left shoulder, pelvis and jaw.
To mark the second anniversary of her rescue by the Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance – when she was just 45 minutes from death – she completed a gruelling seven-hour 3,560ft climb up the tallest peak in Wales in aid of the life-saving flying doctors.
Rosie’s mum Syreeta and brother Thomas drove to the scene of the accident after receiving a phone call from Jamie.
She said: “When we got there paramedics from the land ambulance were cutting off Rosie’s protective gear. I remember there was a bone sticking out of her leg. After about ten minutes the air ambulance appeared in the sky and landed in the grounds of a large house nearby.
“Rosie was losing a lot of blood – we found out later that her life expectancy was only about 45 minutes.
“The air ambulance crew sedated Rosie, made her comfortable and got her into the helicopter. I was able to fly with her and we arrived at Birmingham Children’s Hospital in just seven minutes.
“If she hadn’t got to a hospital so quickly she would have bled to death from her internal injuries.”
Rosie was just 45 minutes from death when she was rescued by the Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance paramedics.
After seven hours of surgery on both legs, Rosie was in hospital for a month during which time she had an operation to put plates in her femur, tibia and fibula.
When discharged, Rosie was in a wheelchair – but was determined not to be held back, and continued to do everything she enjoyed including day-trips to the seaside and drama summer camps.
She had to take her SATS exams at home but was able to return to school – still in a wheelchair – three months after the accident.
“Everything was difficult and it was a struggle for us as a family. We had always been very outdoorsy and being confined to the house was very hard for Rosie,” says Syreeta.
Rosie had to undergo two further operations to remove screws and plates when her broken bones healed. Over time she went from being in a wheelchair to using a zimmer frame and then crutches and a walking stick.
Now back to full health, Rosie – a pupil at Bablake Senior School in Coventry – is back playing hockey, taking part in dramatic productions and riding her bike.
The Snowden climb was set as a challenge to keep her motivated during her long recovery period and physiotherapy sessions.
Rosie said: “The air ambulance saved my life and I wanted to do something to say thank you.
“Whenever I see it flying overhead I blow it a kiss.”
Visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rosie-jeffs1 to donate to Rosie’s fund-raiser.
