Coming into my last of 11 years of HEMS (damn that 60th birthday!) after what has been the most satisfying flying job in 30 years of rotary.
Meeting recovered 'customers' is also a bonus. For example last month I met a 25 year old girl who, in 2005, we had airlifted to A+E after she suffered horrendous injury in a nasty riding accident. She arrested (her heart stopped) during the 10 minute flight. (point to note: both medics can attend a very critical patient in the back of the chopper...in a land ambulance one of them has to drive).
She had fully recovered and was the picture of health and brimming with the positivity of life. She is a champion for the air ambulance and has raised thousands for the charity.
She shyly confided to me that she has a photo of the pilot and the 2 paramedics on the ceiling of her bedroom, above her bed.