For most, it’s difficult to imagine what it would be like to regain consciousness surrounded by a chorus of voices asking questions such as, ‘What’s your name?’ ‘Where are you?’ and ‘Do you know what happened?’ For Dominique Wiebe, however, this surreal experience is her first memory of both the accident that changed her life and the STARS air ambulance crew that rushed to save it. Wiebe is one of STARS’ VIPs, or Very Important Patients, whose impactful stories will fill the airwaves on April 7 and 8 for the Critical Care on the Air Radiothon presented by BHP and Parrish & Heimbecker. Over two 12-hour broadcasts, the community will come together to raise funds for an organization that its president and CEO, Dr. John Froh, said was built by the community and for the community. For Wiebe, the support is part of the reason she’s able to tell her story today. Routine commute turned life-threatening collision That fateful day began like any other for Wiebe. She was on her daily commute to work — after debating whether she should stop for a breakfast muffin along the way — when she was suddenly rear-ended by a pickup truck. The impact spun her vehicle directly into the path of oncoming traffic, which resulted in a disastrous strike when she was hit behind her driver’s seat by another vehicle. We didn't know what condition I was in, so STARS was able to rule out a lot of major issues. It brought a lot of calmness and control to the day, because like I said, we just didn't know. -STARS VIP Dominique Wiebe on her experience with the STARS crew that responded to her accident. To donate to the life-saving service now, visit the Critical Care on the Air website. Wiebe said that she doesn’t remember the accident. She does, however, remember trying to make sense of what happened as she found herself in a neck brace and arm sling surrounded by first responders as she slipped in and out of consciousness. A sign of a serious situation For Wiebe, amid the confusion of the situation, two memories stand out. The first was that, through the daze, she felt an urgency to assure the people around her that she was okay — her brother had been lost in a car accident before hers, and even without knowing the full extent of her own situation, she felt it was crucial for her family to be reassured. The second moment, which helped the reality of her circumstances sink in, was hearing that a STARS air ambulance was on its way. This news was a sign that she was not doing as well as she had initially hoped. Highly specialized support in a critical moment It didn’t take long for STARS to appear on the horizon to arrive directly to Wiebe, complete with essential ICU-level medical equipment and a team of highly trained crew members. Despite the severity of the situation, the STARS crew also brought confidence and calm to what was otherwise an overwhelming situation. Wiebe said that while her first responders did what they could at the scene, their ability to assess the extent of her injuries roadside — especially internally — was limited. That’s where STARS stepped in. “In the moment, there was so much unknown, and with an accident like that, there's so much that could have gone wrong,” she said. “We didn't know what condition I was in, so STARS was able to rule out a lot of major issues. It brought a lot of calmness and control to the day, because like I said, we just didn't know.” In flight, the crew provided Wiebe with advanced critical care, including assessing her for internal bleeding and spinal injuries before arriving at the hospital, where a team, already notified by STARS, was waiting to treat Wiebe within minutes. ‘You're not just a patient’ Although it was an emergency filled with uncertainty at every turn, Wiebe said her experience with the STARS crew was overwhelmingly positive and peaceful. Even while administering care, she said the crew took the time to connect with her and make her feel comfortable. “I had a great time with them, which sounds really, really weird. On such a dark day, they made the day so memorable and so great,” she said, adding that she was especially affected by one of the crew members’ parting words of reassurance. “[She said], ‘There's going to be a lot of people hovering over you, and probably not a lot of them telling you what's going on, but I just want to tell you that they're all here to help you. You don't need to be overwhelmed. You don't need to be scared.’” I really did get to see how they are firsthand, and they are just so incredible. They really give their full hearts to it. They’re actually saving people’s lives and changing people’s futures. -STARS VIP Dominique Wiebe on the life-saving air ambulance service. To donate now, visit the Critical Care on the Air website. Even after Wiebe was delivered by the STARS crew and surrounded by a dozen nurses and doctors in the aftermath of her accident, the crew's level of professionalism and heart made a lasting impact. “They are, first of all, trained in the best possible way, but they are also people who really see the humanity,” she said. “You're not just a patient.” Helping the best hope in a worst-case scenario Wiebe would go on to recover from her injuries, which included a broken collar bone, facial fractures, and a serious head injury that began to affect her life significantly two months after the accident. She said that looking back, her outcome could have been far worse without STARS. Her story is one of more than 63,000 missions the air ambulance charity has carried out since 1985. Jeri-Lynn Johnston, vice president of the STARS Foundation, said the organization relies on a “unique blended funding model” that includes government, corporate, and community support to do its life-saving work. This means that each donation helps ensure crews can deliver critical care anywhere — and bring hope and calm to even the worst-case scenarios. ‘They’re actually saving people’s lives and changing people’s futures’ For Wiebe, who will remember her STARS experience for life, it’s a worthwhile cause. “I really did get to see how they are firsthand, and they are just so incredible. They really give their full hearts to it. They’re actually saving people’s lives and changing people’s futures,” she said. “It's just such an honour to be part of it. I just think it's an incredible opportunity and everybody should support it because it is life-changing, literally life-changing.” On April 7 and 8, listen to the Critical Care on the Air Radiothon to hear more from Wiebe, along with the rescue stories of other VIPs, including Beckham Koscielny, who was just six weeks old when he met STARS. To donate now, visit the Critical Care on the Air website, call 1-877-507-8277, or text “STARS” to the Scotiabank Text-to-Give line at 45678 to contribute $20.