YOUR SUPPORT MAKES CRITICAL CARE, ANYWHERE, POSSIBLE.

On a sunny New Year’s Day, teenager Theo Konidas was enjoying a fun snowmobile ride with his siblings when a patch of ice resulted in a crash that nearly took his life. With his face turning blue, Theo’s parents performed CPR before local emergency crews arrived. STARS responded and the air medical crew intubated him and worked tirelessly to regain his blood pressure and breathing en route to the hospital. Amazingly, Theo made a full recovery, and now actively fundraises for STARS. “I wouldn’t be here without them,” he said. 

Read more stories like Theo’s.

A casual horseback ride with friends took a turn when Paula’s mount spooked and she was thrown to the ground. Local crews responded and STARS landed at her remote location, ensuring she quickly had the essential care she needed.

“I’ve been riding my whole life, and I’ve never been thrown from a horse like that,” she said. “My dad was a cowboy, and I heard his voice in my head telling me to take my foot out of the stirrup. I did, then off I went. I don’t remember anything from there, but I’m pretty sure if I hadn’t, I would have been dragged.”

Johnson was knocked unconscious after hitting the ground with potential head and spinal injuries, making her situation critical. Her friends called 911; Alberta Health Services Emergency Medical Services (EMS) collected the information and triangulated the call signal to determine Johnson’s location. Then, Fort Macleod EMS and fire department were dispatched to the scene.

“They’re so empathetic, caring, and professional. I was just so thankful to meet them and have them help me put the pieces of the puzzle together. Having STARS get me out probably saved my life.”

Long before young Jorja Strauss needed urgent critical care from STARS, her parents and grandparents were passionate supporters. The Strauss family would have no idea that one of their children would sustain a life-threating traumatic injury and need our helicopter and crew to help save her life.

“We never actually thought we would need STARS,” said Blaine, who lives with his family on a farm, far from the city and urgent care. “It is an absolute necessity in rural areas where we don’t have access to the urgent care we do need out there. We’re not terribly far in the country either compared to some real remote areas.”

“It’s pretty important because accidents happen every day,” said Jorja, who has fully recovered from her injuries. “They’re mostly just accidents. No one means to do them purposely, but STARS is just there to help you, especially when there’s special accidents with younger kids like me. But it’s just really important that STARS is in our life because they’re here to take us to the place that we need.”

STARS is more than transport. Whether by air, ground or virtually, the expert care delivered by our doctors, nurses and paramedics comes in many forms. 

“Before, I always attached a helicopter to STARS — to me, that’s what STARS was,” Stewart said, recalling his fateful day. “Since my incident, I now know a lot more.”

The first time his heart stopped, Stewart was more than 1,000 km away from the STARS Emergency Link Centre (ELC), the critical care logistics hub through which emergency responses are coordinated. He soon discovered how it — and STARS Vigilant housed within it — connects patients with help beyond STARS.

“I now know that STARS goes way beyond helicopters,” he said. “That’s just one part of what they do and what they offer. They have a team of doctors and medical people who are trained and qualified to give the necessary advice to help in situations of trauma, no matter what it might be or where you might be at.”

For Christine Aarsby, the birth of her daughter Addy had been planned as a joyous day for her and her family. Moments after Addy was born via C-section, the situation worsened after Christine suffered a rare complication.

Aarsby gave birth at a rural hospital and, due to failure to progress in labour, doctors were forced to perform a C-section. Moments after Addy was born, the situation worsened. Aarsby suffered a rare complication, an amniotic fluid embolism (AFE), a situation in which amniotic fluid enters the mother’s blood stream.

“When you’re in a life-and-death situation like that, every second counts,” said Aarsby. “And being able to have STARS get me there in the quickest time possible, it helped save my life.”

“I’m so grateful to still be here, to be able to see Addy,” she smiled. “I got to see her first steps.”

Headlights are the last things Tiffany Lau remembers seeing before STARS flew to her.

“I don’t know if I reacted too late or if the other driver was going too fast, but I was hit head on,” said Lau, recalling the crash that saw her cared for inside a STARS helicopter.

From the time STARS landed at Lau’s accident scene to the time the helicopter landed at the hospital was just 20 minutes.

Pat Jeffery, a STARS flight nurse who was on Lau's mission, was filled with joy to reunite with Lau during the Very Important Patient’s visit to the STARS base.

“You know, you see her smiling there, it really is that validation that we made a difference. That’s why we do this. She doesn’t even need to say anything. Just to see her walking around just makes you feel good that we made a difference in someone’s life.”

Lau gives back every chance she gets at various fundraisers, including appearing in a STARS calendar.

“When I researched how much money and how much funding STARS needs to just lift one helicopter, it surprised me,” she said. “For me to be a part of it, it’s like taking one step to help them. I want to do as much as I can to help.”

It was meant to be a birthday bash in the countryside. No one planned to have a big red helicopter show up.

“If STARS didn’t come out,” said Dennis Blackburn, “I don’t believe I’d be sitting here today.”

He was at his dad’s acreage with his wife and friends, celebrating his 33^rd birthday. Scouring hilly pasture for some outdoor fun, Blackburn’s pickup became stuck in thick mud. He trudged back to the farm for a tractor and chains.

Rain and hail unfurled as he and his pal returned to the area. 

“As I got up to the hill,” said Blackburn, “he jumped off, and I went over the top of the hill and realized I'm in the wrong spot.”

He pointed the tractor’s nose downhill and moved ahead.

“It started sliding because it was raining so hard. I hit a badger hole with my front right tire, and it kind of popped, and it shot me off the tractor.”

As he fell down the hill, he realized he wasn’t alone — the tractor was tumbling close behind. 

“I tried to scurry out of the way, and as I was scurrying, it hit me, and it just pushed me right into the ground,” he said, speculating that ground softened by rain may have spared his life.

The tractor continued rolling; Blackburn stayed put. He was seriously hurt, and before long, 911 was on the line.

“As soon as they heard ‘tractor rollover’, well, STARS was dispatched right away,” he said.

Emergency responders arrived, and STARS landed nearby. Blackburn remembers firefighters winching him up the hill.

“I remember freaking out a little bit because I don’t like flying,” he smiled. He was thankful, though, for a quick 11-minute flight with critical care providers instead of a rough 45-minute road trip..

“There are so many people that might not be here today without STARS,” said Blackburn. “Every day that I’m here is a day I almost didn’t receive. I have a three-month-old baby that would not have been possible without STARS. My wife is not a widow because of STARS. If it’s giving a couple of hours here and there to promote, to raise money, to save lives, I think it’s worth every minute.”