Full Circle: Emily’s First International Mission

When CareFlight nurse Emily Staples boarded a medi-jet bound for the Solomon Islands recently, it wasn’t just another retrieval; it marked a powerful full-circle moment. Beside her was CareFlight Medical Director Dr Toby Fogg, the same doctor who had flown to Dunedin, New Zealand, in 2019 to bring Emily home after a devastating accident.

At the time, Emily was preparing to start her new role with CareFlight as a critical care nurse. Before officially beginning, she took a skiing holiday in New Zealand. A fall on an icy slope left her with a femur broken into five pieces and severe blood loss, an injury more often seen in high-speed car crashes. After weeks in hospital and a series of complications that saw her admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, Emily was finally brought home by CareFlight.

Her retrieval was coordinated by Dr Caroline Macari, a retrieval specialist with CareFlight and a close friend, and carried out with the support of Toby and flight nurse, David Hughes.

Emily remembers the moment Toby walked into her hospital room in Dunedin.

“As soon as I saw Toby, a familiar face, I felt an overwhelming sense of relief. He gave me a hug and I said, ‘Just get me out of here.’

“After what had been a terrifying experience with suboptimal care that led to my complications, I finally felt safe with Toby, David, and the rest of the CareFlight team.”

Her recovery took years and included multiple surgeries and setbacks. But returning to the skies was always the goal, and now she’s doing just that.

Last month, Emily flew her first international mission as a CareFlight Air Ambulance nurse, this time with Toby not as her rescuer, but as her teammate. It was a milestone that held special personal significance.

“It was surreal, in the best possible way,” she said. “I felt a myriad of emotions.”

“This job is a privilege. To be there for people in their worst moments and take them to definitive care is an honour. I am in the unique position of understanding the responsibility of our role from both perspectives, as a patient and as a clinician.”

Toby agreed that flying with Emily was a special experience.

“Seeing her in action, fully recovered and doing what she does best. It’s a reminder of why we do this work, and how strong the bonds are in this team.”

For Emily, it’s all about purpose and people.

“CareFlight isn’t just a workplace. It’s a family. That support helped carry me through. Now I get to be that support for someone else.”