Just 12 months ago, Jason wasn't sure if he would ever walk properly again.
Today, the Westbury resident, 37, is running half marathons, taking part in the Royal Flying Doctor Service's Oceans to Outback challenge, and enjoying life with wife Shirralee and their three children, Alyssa, Connor and Nate.
But getting there was a long road.
For more than 20 years, Jason had lived with recurring back problems following a motorbike accident.
After becoming a mechanic, years spent bent over engine bays only added to the strain.
Over the years he saw pain specialists, back specialists and doctors, often experiencing debilitating flare-ups that interrupted work and daily life.
Despite the ongoing pain, Jason adapted. He moved into sales at JMC in Launceston, found a role that was less physically demanding and learned to live with the discomfort.
Then, late in 2025, everything changed.
After committing to a health and fitness journey and losing more than 30 kilograms, Jason began experiencing what felt like a nagging pain in his hip.
The pain spread through his leg and became so severe that he was repeatedly admitted to hospital and transported to emergency departments by ambulance.
There were times when simply touching his leg caused unbearable pain.
Doctors, specialists and scans provided few answers.
"It got to the point where they were saying, 'We know you're in pain, but we don't know why,'" Jason said.
Unable to work and struggling to move, he spent weeks confined to bed.
"It was affecting every part of our lives," Shirralee said.
"Seeing him in such debilitating pain and not knowing what was causing it was frightening. We were scared, overwhelmed and desperate for answers, all while trying to cope with the financial stress of him being unable to work.”
Shortly after Christmas, months of pain and frustration, Jason and his family reached breaking point.
After collapsing at home, Jason was once again taken to hospital.
This time, his family refused to leave without answers.
An MRI revealed the cause of his agony, severe spinal issues requiring urgent specialist surgery in Hobart.
Within minutes, an RFDS aircraft had been activated.
Through a partnership between the Tasmanian Government, Ambulance Tasmania's Critical Care and Retrieval Service and RFDS, aeromedical teams help connect Tasmanians with urgent specialist care when time matters most.
Jason was one of 1,185 patients retrieved or transported by aeromedical teams last financial year, during which crews completed 2,466 missions and flew more than 492,000 kilometres.
For Ambulance Tasmania Flight Paramedic David, the mission initially appeared routine.
"Myself and a colleague were tasked with transferring Jason from the Launceston General Hospital to the Royal Hobart Hospital for surgery," he said.
"He was in severe pain and it was obvious he wasn't going to tolerate being moved without significant pain relief.
For David, the benefits of aeromedical retrieval are clear.
"That would have been a really terrible road transfer," he said.
"He would have felt every bump in the road. The flight from Launceston to Hobart is only around 40 to 50 minutes once we're airborne."
"The benefit of fixed-wing aeromedical transport is that we can get patients to where they need to be much faster and usually much more comfortably than a long road journey."
David, Ambulance Tasmania Flight ParamedicFor Jason, that made a significant difference.
And what happened after landing left a lasting impression on Jason and Shirralee.
When they arrived in Hobart, David and it colleague remained by Jason's side, ensuring his pain relief continued uninterrupted and that the transition to hospital care was completed safely.
"They kept him calm, comforted him and made sure everything was organised properly," Shirralee said.
"They were incredible."
The following morning, surgeons performed emergency spinal surgery.
The culprit was identified as severely bulging discs at L4-L5 and L5-S1, placing pressure on critical nerves and causing the agonising symptoms that had baffled clinicians for months.
The operation, known as a microdiscectomy, delivered immediate relief.
"When I woke up, the first thing I noticed was that the pain was gone," he said.
Recovery wasn't easy, and there were significant physical and mental challenges along the way.
But slowly, Jason rebuilt his strength.
First came short walks around the house.
Then longer walks and eventually running.
By mid-year, he completed a half marathon in an impressive one hour and 36 minutes.
"I never thought that would be possible," he said.
Before his experience, Jason admits he knew very little about the Flying Doctor and Ambulance Tasmania's work.
"I'd seen the signs and heard about the RFDS, but I didn't really know what they did here," he said.
Today, that's changed.
"Words can't describe how grateful we are.
"They're the unnoticed heroes.
"They genuinely care.
"And if I hadn't been flown to Hobart when I was, I honestly don't know where I'd be today."
For David, Jason's story highlights something many Tasmanians don't realise until they need it.
"It's a service you might not know is there," he said.
"But when you need it, you're incredibly grateful for it."
Not long after returning home, Jason and his family visited the RFDS crew to personally thank them.
"He brought his whole family out to visit us and we were able to show them through the aircraft," David said."It was really nice to see him upright, walking around and doing so well."
The experience inspired Jason to start up his own clothing business JSB22 Performance and encouraged him to take on the RFDS Oceans to Outback challenge, raising funds to support the service that helped him when he needed it most.
Having already lost around 30 kilograms and transformed his health, he set himself an ambitious target of running 300 kilometres during October.
A year ago, Jason was bedridden, exhausted and searching for answers.
Today, he's running half marathons, spending time with his family and helping ensure the Flying Doctor can be there for the next person facing their toughest day.
"It's pretty simple really," Jason said.
"I can walk. I can run. I can do things with my family again.
"And I don't take that for granted."
