A mum has celebrated her daughter's 26th birthday seven years after being told she wouldn't survive the car crash that left her with life-changing injuries.
In June 2015, Bethany Oliver, 26, had been to a funeral when she was involved in a traffic collision. She suffered a catastrophic head injury, a broken collar bone, and a tear in her spleen.
Bethany's mum, Claire Foster, said that when she saw her daughter in hospital after the horrific collision her legs collapsed beneath her. And she later had to have the heartbreaking discussion about turning off her daughter's life support machine.
But she refused to let doctors switch off the machine and Bethany survived. Today, Claire has reflected on the horror incident after celebrating her daughter's birthday.
Claire, from Gateshead, said: "On the morning it happened, I remember Beth doing her hair and makeup when I had just got in from work and I waved her off down the street.
"She looked fabulous when she left. Bethany was out all the time and really lived her life to the full – she was always out raving and dancing.
"After the funeral, Beth got a lift home when the driver lost control. The car flipped and hit a pedestrian and then went through a brick wall, landing on its roof."
The Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) was tasked instantly to the crash and Bethany received blood from the charity's critical care team. She was then put in an induced coma on scene and flown to the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) in Newcastle.
Bethany had been thrown back into the boot of the car on impact and had a catastrophic head injury, a broken collar bone, and a tear in her spleen.
Claire said: "When I finally went in to see Beth, I couldn't believe it. She was still covered in blood and had the neck and head brace on and tubes everywhere and my legs just collapsed beneath me."
Specialists at the RVI told Miss Foster to prepare for the worst because of how bad her head injury was and that if she did survive, she would have a limited quality of life.
Claire said: "There were discussions around turning Beth's life support machine off, but I said absolutely not. They decided to take out her breathing tube to see if she could manage herself and she did.
"She made the decision that she wanted to live so that's when we all decided we would be there for her no matter what."
Bethany was transferred from the RVI to Walkergate Park Hospital before going to the Alan Shearer Centre where she began her long rehabilitation journey.
Claire added: "The injuries have had a huge impact on Beth but here we are, years on, and although we can't do what we used to do, she is so happy.
"She laughs, she sings, she loves being pampered and although she can't respond, she always knows what you are saying."
GNAAS doctor, Rachel Hawes, treated Bethany on scene. She said: "We see so many patients at some of their worst moments and it is heartwarming to see them again on their road to recovery.
"When I saw Beth not long ago, I noticed such an improvement in her which was very moving. She's such a strong lady with amazing people around her."
Claire said: "Beth wouldn't be here without GNAAS. We take every day as it comes, and I have accepted that this is our life now.
"I'd do anything to go back to how things were, but we can't, and Beth wouldn't want us sitting around crying."
Last year GNAAS had its busiest year on record, responding to 1,620 call-outs across the region. Help fund their future by visiting this link.
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