Brandon Hemerle

Brandon Hemerle is a country boy through and through. Living a life deeply rooted in the outdoors, Brandon spends his days as a truck driver, delivering equipment to oil fields and construction sites across the area. When he’s not on the job, he’s often found playing basketball with his kids or enjoying the simple pleasures of life, like camping or tossing horseshoes.

Things took a turn in 2010 when Brandon’s life changed while on a cattle drive. What should have been a routine ride turned into a life-or-death situation when his horse spooked, causing a terrible fall. Brandon was thrown from his horse, his head colliding with the animal’s head, and he was knocked unconscious. The horse bolted, and the next thing Brandon knew, he was falling over an embankment and his horse was landing on top of him.

The impact was severe. Brandon recalls losing all feeling from his neck down. First responders from the nearby town knew immediately the situation was dire. They suspected a broken neck or back, so they called STARS to transport him safely and provide Brandon with the care he so critically needed.

The STARS air medical crew responded quickly, picking Brandon up from a nearby pipeline site, not far from where he had fallen. Though he was in and out of consciousness, he remembers parts of the flight, saying, “They did their job very well. It was an experience, and they used almost every resource that was available that day.”

At the hospital, the doctors found that Brandon’s spine had been compressed. This could have serious implications such as damage to spinal nerves, pain, numbness, weakness and even loss of feeling in certain limbs. Fortunately, over the next few days, he began to regain sensation as his spine slowly decompressed. After several CAT scans and an MRI, the doctors determined that Brandon was going to be okay.

Looking back, Brandon is deeply thankful for the quick response and skill of the first responders and the STARS crew that day. Without their expertise and care, the outcome could have been very different.

“I am so lucky, we can live a happy life” explains Brandon’s wife, Samantha. “A big part of it is because of STARS. They were there, and got him the help that he needed, quickly. And if it weren’t for that, he probably wouldn’t be the same person that he is today, and I’m grateful for that.”

The Hemerle’s appreciation for STARS extends beyond their experience. Through learning about other patients that have been rescued by the air ambulance service, Brandon understands how important STARS is to the community. For him, meeting the crew wasn’t just about expressing gratitude – it was about becoming part of something larger: a community of individuals who share a bond through the life-saving work that STARS does every day. And for that, Brandon is forever grateful.