When a frantic Kate Mitchell ran towards a remote police patrol, with her seemingly lifeless toddler in her arms, she'd already spent over thirty minutes performing CPR and battling poor mobile reception to emergency services. Along with her other son, Harry, and her father-in-law, Kate had made a desperate dash by car to meet the ambulance, knowing that every second counted if 16-month-old Darcy stood any chance of surviving his terrifying Tonic-clonic seizure. Minutes later, a pursuit-trained police officer was behind the wheel of the volunteer-run ambulance, racing the Mitchell family towards Albany - with lights and sirens blaring. Now, some three years on, the Darcy Effect is helping country families from across Australia, to navigate the often frightening and complex world of an unexpected or emergency medical crisis. And as for Darcy? The fit and currently seizure free four-year-old is keeping busy helping his Mum, to pack 'care packs' for other country families, who have suddenly found themselves a long way from home.

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Thanks so much for listening to this episode of the Flying Doctor Podcast. It is lovely to have you along on the journey with us. There has been some wonderful feedback from listeners about our podcast and the incredible people we have interviewed. You can find out more about the The Darcy Effect here - and watch the super-cute First Aid video for kids, Fangs on the Farm, at "Fangs on the Farm" Episode. Word of mouth is always the best promotion for a podcast – so if you enjoy this podcast, or a specific story, please share with family and friends. Reviews and ratings help our podcast to be found by others, so if you can take the time to do that it would be appreciated. You can also send feedback, questions or comments through to podcast@rfds.org.au. We'd also love you to become part of the Flying Doctor Podcast Facebook group, where passionate listeners and incredible outback communities come together.

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Australia's 'Queen of Hearts' was born on the day when Dawn Beaumont brought her mother back to life. Even as her extensive, professional First Aid training kicked in - as Dawn calmly performed CPR on her mum in the middle of a crowded theatre foyer - the experienced health and safety manager grappled with the knowledge that her mother was having a potentially fatal heart attack. With a family history of coronary disease and obesely overweight and a smoker, Janet was (in her daughter's words) 'literally a ticking time bomb'. Thankfully, Janet survived her 2013 health emergency. And now, she's become an integral part of her daughter's epic Duathlon support crew - as Dawn takes on the world-record-breaking challenge of running and riding 20,000km in 200 days to raise 2 million dollars for the Heart Foundation and the RFDS in 2025. Because it takes a true, modern-day Warrior Woman to claim the title of Australia's Queen of Hearts.

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Thanks so much for listening to this episode of the Flying Doctor Podcast. It is lovely to have you along on the journey with us. You can follow and discover more about Dawn's epic Duathlon journey via her website at Queen of Hearts Run & Ride | running and riding around Australia Word of mouth is always the best promotion for a podcast – so if you enjoy this podcast, or a specific story, please share with family and friends. Reviews and ratings help our podcast to be found by others, so if you can take the time to do that it would be appreciated. You can also send feedback, questions or comments through to podcast@rfds.org.au. We'd also love you to become part of the Flying Doctor Podcast Facebook group, where passionate listeners and incredible outback communities come together.

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When Veronica suffered a life-threatening bowel obstruction, she was told she had just hours to reach the specialist care she needed to save her life. From the outside, Veronica Croser appears to be a fit and active young Mum with a passion for adventure. If you met her on one of the many remote hiking trails she enjoys exploring, you probably wouldn’t be surprised that this active rural woman also volunteers as a local firefighter for her SA community of Bordertown. But what might surprise you is what’s been happening INSIDE Veronica Croser. This dynamic rural woman has spent a lifetime dealing with the often debilitating and almost always painful effects of Inflammatory Bowel Disease and it’s even more complex cousin, Chrones disease. Yet against all odds – and in much the same way she has successfully tackled some of Australia’s most remote bushland tracks and mountain walks - Veronica has tackled her ill-health with an incredible combination of inner strength, self-determination and incredible courage. Veronica Croser is living proof that you can’t always judge a book by its cover.

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Thanks so much for listening to this episode of the Flying Doctor Podcast. It is lovely to have you along on the journey with us. There has been some wonderful feedback from listeners about our podcast and the incredible people we have interviewed. Word of mouth is always the best promotion for a podcast – so if you enjoy this podcast, or a specific story, please share with family and friends. Reviews and ratings help our podcast to be found by others, so if you can take the time to do that it would be appreciated. You can also send feedback, questions or comments through to podcast@rfds.org.au. We'd also love you to become part of the Flying Doctor Podcast Facebook group, where passionate listeners and incredible outback communities come together.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.