celebration.

But sometimes not everything goes according to plan and parents are thrown into an abyss of fear and heartache.

Such was the case surrounding the birth of Jet Midson who now, through the dedication of the Telstra Child Flight emergency helicopter service paramedic team and staff at John Hunter Hospital, has celebrated his first birthday.

Jet is lucky to have made this milestone – he did not breathe for the first 22 minutes of his life.

He is one of the 84 Maitland children who have needed the services of the children's rescue helicopter since it started in 2002.

Eleven patients from Maitland used the helicopter last year, most less than three months old.

Jet’s parents Simon Midson and April Clements know how lucky they are to have their little boy and owe the fact that he has been given a better chance of an almost normal life to Child Flight.

The Child Flight team are miracle workers, but they cannot continue their life saving work without help.

Child Flight will hold a charity golf day in Muswellbrook this Sunday and staff from 14 councils in the Hunter will take part.

Prizes and donations will be accepted to help keep the service in the air at www.telstrachildflight.org.au

P lease give generously to this most worthwhile appeal – the next young life they save maybe someone near and dear to you.