Meet Aftercare volunteer, Maureen

“It was the next stage of my bereavement process. I needed something to get up for in the mornings and to push myself,” she adds.

Due to Maureen’s bubbly and chatty personality, Sarah suggested that she might like to support the EAAA Events team by phoning event participants, which Maureen really enjoyed. However, it was one of the Helimed House Open Days which saw a twist of fate and a change of role.

Designated as one of the guided group tour leaders, Maureen and fellow volunteer Don, showed groups of people around the base. At two different points during the day, two visitors became upset. It turned out that they were both bereaved and Maureen naturally stepped in to support them, drawing upon her own experience to offer comfort and understanding.

Maureen explains, “One of the ladies said, “What you’re saying to me is just right.”

Maureen could completely relate to them, and them to her. Soon afterwards, Sarah reached out to Maureen to see if she would be interested in supporting the charity’s Aftercare team. EAAA’s service to local communities goes far beyond the critical care the crews bring to the scene of a medical emergency. Our Aftercare service to former patients, their friends and family in the turbulent aftermath of their incident, supports them as they make the difficult transition back to daily life and beyond – and Maureen’s skills and personality could be of enormous benefit to the people supported by the team.

And it is.

She now supports EAAA’s Aftercare clinicians by making phone calls to former patients and their family members, instinctively understanding what they need to hear, or not hear.

Maureen says, “People don’t want me to say, ‘Hello, how are you,’ They want, ‘Hello, is today a good day or a bad day?”

She also supports with base visits that are arranged by the Aftercare team so former EAAA patients and families can see the facilities, meet the crew and ask questions about their incident to help fills in any gaps about what happened and their care at the scene.

“I really enjoy this side of things because I can relate to what people are feeling, when to talk and when not to talk,” Maureen adds.

And it’s special to be part of the incredible community of EAAA volunteers too, as Maureen still supports other events and activities, including an Aftercare wellbeing evening, the charity’s flagship Trek 24 fundraising events, and supporting awareness activities at events such as the Royal Norfolk Show.

Maureen explains, “I’m part of a network of similar people and there is a genuine sense of togetherness.”