A CARER who saved the life of the 21-year-old woman from Rockhampton that she looks after has received a prestigious regional award for her work.

Anna Chrzastowska was presented with the Home Care Front Line award at the Care and Support West 2017 Awards during a special event at Ashton Gate in Bristol on October 14.

As a carer for Newcross Healthcare Solutions, Anna was nominated for her outstanding work caring for Rockhampton student Sarah Britten, who suffers from Rett Syndrome, which requires round-the-clock care.

Prevailing over her disabilities to study at St Martin’s College in Stroud, Sarah was born with the condition, a rare genetic neurological disorder which results in profound physical and communication disabilities, resulting in complete immobility and her total reliance on others for support.

Anna, who lives in Henbury, has cared for Sarah for around three years and was nominated for the award by Sarah’s parents, Michael and Wendy Britten, who described her as a “lovely, bouncy and fun person”.

Saying why they felt Anna was a special enough carer to win an award, the Brittens said that earlier this summer, Sarah had been ill in the early hours of the morning and was sick into a mask she wears while she sleeps.

The machine attached to the mask that pumps air for her to breathe began to work harder, which could have proved fatal had Anna not been alert and quickly intervened to clear Sarah’s airwaves.

Wendy said: “We believe Anna’s actions on that difficult and frightening night prove just how special she is to our family and we will be forever grateful for her devotion to our dear little girl.”

Having attended the ceremony with Anna, Wendy praised the carer saying “she is incredible, she really deserves it”.

“She is so fond of Sarah, and Sarah is very fond of her, so we were very pleased to be able to put her name forward for the awards.

“Michael and I didn’t tell her to start with when we sent her name in, back in July, but when we found out there was a chance she would be put forward for the award we were very excited and really hoped she would win.”