The last thing Bonnie Fortin heard was a doctor at the Cypress Regional Hospital in Swift Current say “I have to put you to sleep now Bonnie.” 

Two days later, Fortin woke up in the Intensive Care Unit at the Regina General Hospital. She learned that she nearly bled to death following complications from the C-section. 

All of this took place in August of 2013 as Fortin gave birth to her fourth son Emery. 

Fortin is one of the VIPs, or Very Important Patients, that is speaking about their experience with STARS Air Ambulance as part of the Critical Care on the Air Radiothon that is into its final day hitting the airwaves across Saskatchewan, including 800 CHAB and Mix 103. 

Bonnie Fortin. (Photo courtesy: STARS Saskatchewan)Fortin was transported from Swift Current to Regina by a STARS helicopter. She said her true experience with STARS didn’t come until well after her ordeal. 

“Because I knew nothing, my husband didn't know a lot, when I met my crew, they answered a lot of questions,” Fortin said.  

“They helped us a lot. They were a great support. I wasn't expecting it to feel the way it felt when I actually met the people that worked and they were really understanding to my family. They were so good to my kids and my husband.” 

The STARS Critical Care on the Air is looking for donations from Saskatchewan residents to help fund STARS’s operations. They only receive about 50 per cent of the needed funding from the provincial government. 

Fortin explained why it is important to give to this cause. 

“As humans, we don't think it's going to be us. We don't wake up in the morning thinking 'oh, today could be a day that I'm going to need STARS' but I think it is important that we remember it does run a lot off of donations but the general public.” 

Last year, STARS flew 884 missions from the Regina and Saskatoon bases. In total, they flew 2,969 missions in Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba. 

To give to the STARS Critical Care on the Air Radiothon, click here or call the Viterra Lifeline at 1-877-507-8277.