Luke's Wings, Inc.

Luke’s wings helped me through an incredibly difficult time when my brother in the Air Force got in an accident. It was my worst nightmare. Luke’s wings helped me meet with him across the country from Washington to Florida while I was active duty and coordinated all travel. Thankfully my brother is much better and I’m so glad for such an amazing opportunity.

Really great organization that provides flights for injured service members and their families. They were really helpful and kind, and the process was so easy.

I am a disabled combat infantry veteran and have been needing several major surgeries to allow me to function as well as possible in my life. LUKE'S WINGS has being invaluable in allowing my wife to travel with me to these treatments. Without LUKE'S WINgS I would have been alone and I would not have been able to be in certain treatment programs. Please help support us severely wounded veterans by donating to this wonderful organization. Thank you for your help.

Luke's Wings is an outstanding organization! My son was in treatment at Walter Reed for over a year. Through the generosity of donors and the professionalism of Luke's Wings coordinators, our family was able to make multiple trips to visit him and help him through his recovery struggles. Luke's Wings is certainly a life-changing organization with great people working to make tough times for our military members & their families easier. As a recipient of their help, I am endlessly grateful, humbled by the generosity, and proud of the organization! BTW, my son is doing well!

This Nonprofit has been INCREDIBLE! I’m an active duty service member and when my wife and I experienced a sudden tragedy Luke’s Wings was there to support us. They arranged for my in laws to visit us to provide the comfort and support we needed. It was also during the time there were ice storms in the area and Luke’s Wings helped rearranging flights during the unexpected. Shout out to Melissa because she was so personal and diligent in ensuring we were taken care of. She went above and beyond our expectations. I want to thank her personally for ensuring all was completed without us having to lift a single finger since we were already going through a lot. She deserves the acknowledgement for her patience and effort. Thank you Melissa and thank you Luke’s Wing for an amazing experience!

A good friend of mine passed away suddenly and I was not in a position to be able to attend his memorial. I was put in contact with Luke’s Wings who took care of getting me to where I needed to go and dealt with my schedule as well as an unscheduled itinerary change. Melissa was very professional, kind and took care of everything. It may seem like a small thing but it was a blessing to be able to say goodbye and I couldn’t have done it without Luke’s Wings, thank you!

Luke's Wings is one of the greatest, if not the greatest non-profit organizations out there for veterans and families of veterans. They helped my father out by flying him to see his brother/my uncle who is a disabled vet. We got to spend some time with him before he unexpectedly passed.

If it wasn't for the assistance of Luke's Wings, my father wouldn't of seen his brother one last time. We are forever grateful for them

Melissa's attentiveness doesn't go unnoticed. She went out of her way for our family with medical emergencies to take care of us. We highly recommend Luke's Wings and truly appreciate the donors who allowed us to travel when we wouldn't have otherwise been able to. God bless and thank you from a very grateful Veteran family.

Luke's Wings is an amazing organization. I have personally utilized their services due to a family illness and was amazed at how generous this organization is. Melissa, took such good care of my request and has provided an exceptional experience. Thank you.

It is so wonderful the care and commitment that I was able to sense from Melissa. She is passionate for our veterans and always willing to step out of her way to help with other resources while able to go fast and give us the peace we needed. Thank you Luke’s wings and thank you Melissa for your endless support

One call to lukes wings and they said YES we can help you. The next morning I am at the airport on my way to see my combat buddy in hospice. I am so grateful

Lukes Wings helped cover my late sons travel to and from cancer treatments. They were very nice in and their help was great.

In supporting our veteran post injury, our family knows first hand the power of family and community support. Our veteran sustained a brain injury in combat and requires full care and assistance. He has been blessed with amazing family and community support over the years. This support that has been a catalyst to take healing from surviving to thriving. When our veteran's god mother passed away, Luke's Wings blessed him with travel assistance so he could be present to honor and celebrate her at her funeral. This gift is not taken for granted. Thank you to the Luke's Wings community of supporters, and the Luke's Wings staff for your seamless support. You are now part of our family and community!

Luke's Wings is an amazing organization that helped me and my family when we needed it the most. They helped us pay for plane tickets during a difficult time in our lives, and we are forever grateful for their support. The process was simple and easy, and the staff was incredibly kind and helpful. Without Luke's Wings, we wouldn't have been able to afford the tickets, and I wouldn't have been able to be there for our loved ones. I highly recommend Luke's Wings to anyone who needs help paying for travel expenses. Finally, I encourage others to donate to Luke's Wings to help other families in need and allow the support to continue to go round.

Lukes Wings made it possible to get my husband home to say final goodbyes to his dad after he passed. Flights were way outside our budget and without Luke's Wings the trip would of been impossible. Thank you for helping me provide closure for my husband!

Allen and Christina

I love Luke’s Wings. Because of them I am able to get the care I need. My local VA does not have the experience or knowledge to take care of my medical needs so I choose to go back to Walter Reed and see the specialist I was seeing in the past few years. Melissa at Luke’s Wings helped me book my flight right away which helped with financial stress.

After my dad was injured over seas and became a wounded warrior I also left for the airforce leaving it extremely hard to see him and my family BUT with their support for wounded warriors it was possible and it helped our family grow and help his recover ! 10/10 The greatest support from any organization I have ever seen and will probably ever see!

LUKE’S WINGS !!!! Where do I start ? Fletcher and the team have been there for my family and I since I met them. Fletcher still checks up on us and it’s been 8 + years since injury. I’m not sure where we would of been without them but we are forever grateful.

Fletcher Gill and Luke's Wings went out of their way to help me and my family after my brother passed away. He helped us raise money for my niece and nephew, who were left without a father. Fletcher did whatever he could to promote the fundraising and spread the word despite his busy schedule. Our family is very grateful for everything that Fletcher did for us at a very dark time in our family history. Fletcher never asked for anything in return. He helped out of the goodness of his heart.

Luke’s Wings has always been really good to us! My family was struggling while in Maryland and not just financially. We had hit an emotional wall and a relationship divide. Luke’s Wings swooped in and showed us that we were not alone. They invited us to Galas, helped us find sitters, and ultimately helped us get a car gifted to us. Even though I’m not what most consider the photo-op wounded warrior (stroke survivor; no physical impairment) Luke’s Wings treated me like I was someone. I wasn’t pushed aside because I didn’t fit their narrative. They help who they can as they can. This is a top notch non-profit and my life is better because I’ve known them. Lindsay and Fletcher have always been good to me and my family. Fletcher would invite us to games and to Thanksgiving dinners. He would say there and listen to my story. So, not only is the organization top notch but so are the leaders.

So thankful Luke’s Wings was there in our time of need while at Walter Reed - I can honestly say I don’t know what we would have done without them. Being in the hospital is such a stressful and worrisome time, and being able to fly much needed family members in to see us was a life saver. Fletcher, Lindsay, and the entire team are down to earth people who really care about the warriors they serve, and we are grateful beyond measure we met them!

Such a blessing. I put in a request for my husband and I, not knowing what the outcome would be. As there is so much scams going on currently due to the pandemic I had to start over fresh with a new phone number/email. I am weary on what sites to visit, where to put my information and such. However, i put a request in with limited information as, I was wiling/able to provide documents, if needed. I explained my need for flights and our circumstances and Within a couple days, they contacted us to let us know of the approval of our flight. Thank you for helping the military community reconnect and enjoy our days, with a blessing of flights. I appreciate the good news!!!

They are always there for us, anytime we need them even to hear my complaints with complications in life, they are always there to support our family, thank you so much for everything you do for us and all of the families that goes through you guys to find some sort of release to see their loved ones.

Lukes wings have always been so great to me and my family. Spending 5 years in the hospital and my family having to go back and forth can get quite expensive but without a doubt likes wings was always there without question. They are always so kind and professional and it's not just a organization they truly care and want to get to know you as a person, as well as your family....

Thank you Lukes wings for helping my daughter & I travel to go see my son who was wounded in combat in Afghanistan. Due to only having one income as my husband is my sons caregiver with no monetary compensation finances have been tight. Thank to Lukes wings I was able to see my son & husband as my sons is recovering from his injuries he sustained. My family & I are truly grateful!

My brother, Terry, means so much to our family. Years ago he came home from his time overseas serving in the army, and he was struggling in many areas of his life. We are thankful for how the VA hospital in Ann Arbor, MI helped him and then they let him start a VA council and a Vet to Vet program so he could help other vets. We were so proud of him.

In August we received a phone call that Terry had stage 4 pancreatic cancer. Soon Terry had to move into the VA hospice care, and then we were told that he many only have weeks to live. It was a sad time. Terry loved his family and we knew he would be encouraged if they could visit him. However, financially it didn't seem possible for our family to fly to be with Terry and our cars are old and unreliable to make the trip. Then someone gave me the phone # to Luke's Wings, and I called them right away. They were kind, compassionate, and very helpful to provide (through their donors) a way for our family to fly to be together with Terry in his final days. It was the greatest gift to our veteran brother and to us to be able to be with him. He felt so loved and he knew he was not alone. We got to be there to hold his hand, to laugh and cry with him, to share favorite memories, to read God's Word and pray and sing with him...even as he passed on into eternity to be with the Lord. Then we were there to help with his sweet daughter ... and with his touching memorial service held at the VA hospital auditorium. We thank God for Luke's Wings...for providing us flights to get our family together during the painful, yet precious time with our brother in VA hospice care. We highly recommend Luke's Wings, and we are truly humbled and blessed by their gracious help in our time of need.

They have helped our family so much! My family was with my sister throughout her treatment because of them. They are amazing! ❤️

Luke’s Wings is a great org that was created out of a desire to serve. It makes me reflect on the role of elder in the Bible. In 1 Timothy 3, this is a true saying, “If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.” I learned of Luke’s Wings back in 2009. They were willing fly a wounded warrior home to continue care.
I later began a receipent during my rehab at Walter Reed. They support Luke’s Wings provides is swift and seamless for individual(s) in need.

Luke ‘s Wings is an amazing organization that done beyond and above for my family. Thank you

Always willing to help. One of the most honest people i have meet.

I'm a proud Marine dad. My son was severely injured at war in Afghanistan and was hospitalized for over 3 years recovering from his wounds. My wife lost her job. I was self employed with 6 children at home still in school depending on us and I did my best to hold down my household but money was stretched out. When my son was injured, I didn't know what to do. All the kids wanted to be with their brother but how?? How... lukes wings is how. We are a very close family and to have an organization like lukes wings to care to bring families together when their injured family member need them most is incredible. Thank you lukes wings you inspired my son to want to recover by bringing us with him.

My son was injured in Afghanistan on December 13, 2011. He lost both legs and had extensive damage to both hands/arms. He also had a traumatic brain injury. He was in a Coma for a month, in intensive care for the better part of two months and in the hospital inpatient/on campus outpatient for two years eleven months and fifteen days. During that time Luke’s Wings provided my family with well over thirty flights. My son is the oldest of six children. As you can imagine we were all devastated. We had no idea how our family was going to financially sustain this blow. We were a paycheck to paycheck family. That was also something we really didn’t have time to worry about at that particular moment. All our thoughts were focused on getting Christian stabilized. We were worried every minute of every day. The family wanted to come visit but the military doesn’t cover that type of expense. I was with Christian but the rest of the family was back in Tennessee. It was exhausting to think about. Luke’s Wings stepped in and provided the first of many flights for my husband and Christian’s grandmother to come to see him in March of 2012. That was the beginning of a long and lasting relationship with Luke’s Wings. Not only did they provide flights but also participated in milestone events like the first steps on prosthetics and first public outings. Fast forward to October 2017, nearly 6 years later and we are still in touch with the staff of Luke’s Wings which I now call family. They provided us with so much during those six years but nothing as important as the friendship we share.

The organization and all the people involved are incredible. They make it easy, in a time of stress to be able to have family either brought to you or the ability to go to them. My husband has been a patient at Walter Reed since May,dealing with surgery and complication due to combat related amputation. I hadn’t been able to see my 18 year old daughter in almost 6 months and she needed her Mom, as we are from AZ. Once we were vetted, the process was painless and within 24 hours had someone contact me to book a flight. This took the stress out of a moment of uncertainty with a quickness. Would recommend supporting this group over so many others. They truly make life easier for those dealing with unexpected stresses as well as expenses.

I can’t even begin to describe how grateful I am for Luke’s Wings!! Over the past few years they flew our boys in to Walter Reed/Bethesda so we could be a normal family while my husband recovered there! Thanksgiving, Christmas and birthdays were not missed in the 2 years we were separated!! Always grateful for those precious moments spent with our sweet boys!!

This organizations is one of the greatest that I've ever had the pleasure of dealing with. My late husband, a Captain in the Army, was being treated for a very painful bone cancer at Walter Reed in Bethesda, MD. We knew that unfortunately, a cure was not to be... While we were there, our families were living in Florida. Financially it was difficult to have them with us as often as we needed them. Luke's Wings stepped in graciously so many times so that both of our families could be with us until the very end and they even flew us out to Hawaii so that my husband could attend one last St. Barb's ball where he received The Honorable Order of Saint Barbara. If it weren't for Luke's Wings, we would have had to battle so many things alone and he would not have gotten that last chance of seeing so many of his best friends and soldiers. This organization will forever be dear to mine and our families hearts.

I have been working with Luke’s Wings as a volunteer for a number of years and the work they do is phenomenal. They are always putting those they serve at the forefront of all they do and are meeting a real need in the military community.

Luke’s Wings has been there for my family in a way that no other organization has been. They’ve made sure that we’ve had access to family whenever we need them even from states away while my husband is recovering from multiple serious injuries. We wouldn’t be where we are today without them!

My husband, Heath, was injured in July of 2011 while serving in Afghanistan. At the time, I was living in Boston for the summer and enjoying my first ever internship. Little did I know that my life was about to change. With the help of Luke's Wings and other generous NGOs I was able to see Heath frequently throughout his recovery in Georgia.

As a college student I had little to no funds to fly myself to Augusta, GA and wasn't even able to rent a car without a huge fee; taking flying to Atlanta and renting a car off the table. Luckily, I didn't have to worry about that for too long because Luke's Wings stepped in. Luke's Wings strengthened our relationship, it was actually on one of my Luke's Wings trips that he asked me to marry him. I was able to be a part of his recovery while still working towards my degree. We also adopted our first dog together on one of my Luke's Wings trips.

Big hearts, great people, awesome support. Plus, they all genuinely care about each and every person they serve.

What a wonderful organization! We are elated with Luke's Wings support. Faced with a serious medical condition- a cancerous brain tumor, I became dependent upon my brother to take care of me. Luke's Wings made that support possible by funding multiple trips from Florida to Maryland. Also, the Luke's Wings staff was extremely friendly and focused on our well being, inviting us to exclusive events. As a veteran, I am extremely blessed to be eligible for such a fantastic program.
Anne-marie and Gary

Facing my second spinal surgery in less than a year, and dealing with severe PTSD and a TBI, my family was concerned that my wife would not be able to take care of my children while giving me the care I needed, especially in the first critical week after surgery. Luke's Wings stepped in and offered to fly in my parents to assist with post surgical care and to aid with our family in a severe time and need. The folks at Luke's Wings were so wonderful, doing everything they could to work with my parents and get them flown in quickly and without any problems. They made such a large impact that my parents have even started donating their miles to the organization for their appreciation. In a time of so much red tape to prove your need and combat injuries, working with the staff at Luke's Wings were a blessing. They are an amazingly caring staff who just wants to take care of those veterans and their families that truly need it. We couldn't have done it without them!

When my best friend, Adam Devine, lost both of his legs while serving overseas he was getting treatment at Walter Reed Hospital. Through the generosity of Luke's Wings I was able to visit Adam multiple times.

My daughter was injured in July 2013 in the Nanghar Province, Afghanistan. We are from Wisconsin and get back when we can. With the help of Lukes Wings, Jennifer Magurer and Sandy, we have been able to be back for special occasions and truly important moments. We can't say "Thank You" enough for all their great work. Just recently I've met a lot of the other staff and volunteers from Lukes Wings, what can I say...Great group of people!

While my husband and I were at Walter Reed we could not financially afford to see our family all the way in Ca for the holidays. Luke's Wings were always there to help us when we needed to see our family, even if any emergency came up. We were able to contact them easily with no questions asked and then we were on a flight. This foundation is awesome at what they do.

On December 9,2011 our life's changed forever . My son was injured by an bomb . We had to make tough choices and one of us had to quit our job and go be by his side . I was it , I took wrong clothes and not even a jacket to dc. We couldn't afford to go shopping money was not there for anything even for my husband to come see my son . Jennifer with Luke's wings stepped up and was there for us . Her and Luke's wings made it possible for us to stay connected as a family . We have two boys and one was still in school in Texas so it was hard to be needed in both places ,,they are always there for us for anything they can help with and more . Please keep this group in your prayers and thoughts when donating , they truly use the funds for clients and not Hugh salaries for broad members . Thank you Margaret burleson

In January of this year, 2015, I received a call from my sister in TX. My precious WWII Dad was in the process of passing from this life. Being Senior Citizens ourselves and in a financial bind, I called Luke's Wings. I spoke with a precious lady and by that evening, my husband and I were flying from MN to TX, at no cost to us. I did make it in time, even though my Dad couldn't respond much, I was able to speak to him, hug and kiss him and tell him how much I loved him.
I will be forever grateful to Luke's Wings for that opportunity to be with my Dad at that time. They are a wonderful service doing the best they can for not only the service people, but their families as well. It is one place the donations are used for the people, they do what they say they will do.

When my husband was wounded, he was hospitalized for a long period and I was unable to be away from work for the entire time. Luke's Wings enabled us to cover the gaps by flying in family and friends to assist with his convalescence. The staff worked overtime to meet our requests for assistance- even the short-notice ones!- and always seemed happy to do it. We are so grateful for the help this nonprofit provided us during a difficult and trying time.

Lukes wings is an amazing organization. They made it possible for my mother her sister and I to see my grandfather who was a Vietnam vet and on hospice. He lived in another state and his hospice nurses had informed us that he wasn't expected to make it more than a few days. Without Lukes Wings help we would not have been able to see him or say goodbye. What they did for us meant everything to my family. I could never thank them enough!

Luke's Wings is one of the most amazing groups in the DC area. From the help with getting flights, to random Friday night ball games, I have never been disappointed or bored with the outcome. The team at Luke's Wings is a top notch group that actually and truly cares. #keepthemflying

Hello, my name is SGT Wilson. I am a Soldier who was wounded in Afghanistan in 2014, I wanted to write a little note letting others that might need help in their travels to visit family or friends.
I saw a segment on the "Today Show" about Lukes Wings expressing the desire to help reunite Service Members with their family's.
The process is very simple, in fact I filled out the form on my iPhone. I heard back from a representative of Lukes Wings witching 24hrs, they worked with and around my Leave dates and I have been able to visit my family on different occasions.
I'd just like to add they have a wonderful staff of people there one of which is named Jennifer Meager who helped me even on her day off... I can't express enough gratitude for Lukes Wings !

Hi there !! I am a combat veteran that is currently undergoing a multitude of different treatments to care for myself as I have a Traumatic brain injury. I am currently doing many therapies and spend most of my day on a daily basis at the doctor. Thanks to Luke's Wings I am able to send my son to visit his grandmother for the summer so that I can focus on my care and not worry about not being around for my son and taking care of his needs. This organization really cares about the well being of not only Soldiers, but their families as well. I am so very grateful to them. My son is ecstatic as well. AGAIN....THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH LUKES WINGS!!!!!

Luke's Wings is an amazing non-profit that has done so many things for many many wounded and thier families, including my husband and myself.
Thank you,
Brenda N.

May 8, 2012, our then 22 year old son, a Lance Corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps stationed in Afghanistan, stepped on an IED and lost both of his legs. It doesnt take much of an imagination to conjure up the simultaneous feelings of shock, fear, sorrow, nausea, and confusion, along with gratitude that your loved one is alive, that family and friends feel upon hearing this news. The first days are a blur. The Marine Corps flew my husband, myself, and one of our 5 children, our younger son, from Pueblo, Colorado to D.C. to Walter Reed Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD. What a joy to see our precious son, alive and very upbeat, very much himself in spite of his injuries. How very quickly it becomes overwhelming when you are told of the months, possibly years of treatment that lie ahead and the realization that one of us will be able, thank God, to stay with him through his recovery time, but that we will be separated as a family. After a few days, my husband and younger son flew home and I stayed with our injured son. We were told about Luke's Wings, a wonderful organization that wil fly family in to visit their wounded warrior for free. What a Godsend! Our family of 7 is very close and the joy that it brought my son to have his three sisters and his beloved niece able to visit him later that week was the best medicine in the world. Many times throughout the next year, Luke's Wings provided flights which I credit directly with my son's cheerful attitude, quick healing, and keeping our family close. I was away from my then 15 year old daughter and my husband throughout that year and from my 10 year old daughter for 6 months, but thanks to Luke's Wings, my son and I flew home for the best Thanksgiving and Christmas ever, our first visit home since May. Anytime I am asked what charities were the most helpful during our time at Walter Reed, Luke's Wings is at the top of the list. Not only did they keep us together as a family, flying us between Colorado and D.C., but Jen Magerer, the liaison at Luke's Wings, is a friend to all the families at Walter Reed, coordinating fun outings, providing for us in ways above and beyond her job description, and just being a friend. I know this is a bit long, but I just can't say enough about this wonderful charity. My son and I came home this May, one year after his injuries. He is doing very well. He is now engaged to a lovely young lady who was his girlfriend last May and is now his fiancée. Luke's Wings flew her out several times over the last year as well, which definitely contributed to my son's healing process and happiness. To our family, Luke's Wings are angel's wings.

Hi, my name is Rebecca Strong, the wife of Chaplain Will Strong Jr. Chaplain Strong collapsed in Fort Irwin, California due to a condition called Hydrocephalus (fluid on the brain). He has had a lot of complications due to this condition and has had two brain surgeries to place a shunt to remove fluid off his brain. Last April, Lindsay Kin and Fletcher flew to the Hydro Angel of the Year Event in San Antonio, Texas to meet Will and let him know that he was going to get his dream come true. His dream was to fly to Alaska to see his family, including his sister whom he hadn't seen in over 12 years. He was suppose to fly last July, but was too sick to do so. Will was medically retired in September of 2012. Our family is currently visiting Wasilla, Alaska and we are so thankful to Luke's Wings who was able to purchase our tickets and for following up with us through out this past year as we needed to wait for him to be well enough. I definitely recommend that people should give to this organization as they are doing so much to help our wounded military families. I haven't seen my husband smile this much in a very long time. Thank you Luke's Wings.

Hello my name is CPL Joshua Lopez. I am a US Marine injured early April 2013, while in combat in Afghanistan. Ever since have been hospitalized recovering from my many injuries at Walter Reed Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. I come from a big family having 6 younger siblings, my father self employed and his work load is very slow and my mother who lost her job to be with me caring for all needs this whole time. Luke's Wings unselfish acts of kindness has allowed my mother to be with me as well fly back and forth home to also attend to the rest of the family. Without their dedication and generosity, it would be impossible for my family to assist me as they have. I am forever grateful for all their hard work, their kindness and the immediate flights they provide which makes a world of a difference in my spiritual outcome as well as in my recovery progress. I've witnessed their devotion at Walter Reed visiting numerous families from all branches. Spending countless hours of their own time making life a little nicer for the injured. Bringing personal items such as clothing for the ladies to attend the balls. Things such as that that they do not have to do but do so because of their sincere kind nature. I've seen and delt with other organizations and by far Luke's wings has touched my heart the most. Thank you Jennifer, Tammi, Linsey and Fletcher. I'm humbled by your blessings! God bless Luke's wings

Great organization that helped us in the time of need. Very carrying people and each and everyone of them is taking time to be personally involved in the lives of wounded soldiers.

Luke's Wings make it possible for me to come visit my brother at Walter Reed. He was wounded in Afghanistan almost three years ago and is still there doing physical therapy every day. It is because of Luke's Wings that I am able to come visit him and marvel in his progress- I would not be able to afford a plane ticket across the country and they make it possible. It has been especially touching to me when they reach out in times of uncertainty and get you there as soon as possible when your wounded warrior is back in the hospital and in need of the love of their family. Thank you Luke's Wings for everything you do!

On January 24, my 82 year old father was scheduled for surgery on his right leg. He has had approximately 13 surgeries to include five heart surgeries. He has also had prostate cancer. My father had surgery in November 2011 and died during the procedure but the doctors were able to revive him. I requested help from Luke's Wings to be with my father before, during and after his surgery. His is a Marine Veteran who lives in Florida and I am an Air Force Veteran who lives in Texas. My father is married and he and my stepmother have raised three grandchildren for the past 17 years. The eldest child who is now 18, just recently moved from their home. They sill have two children there, ages 16 and 15. There are no school buses for help, no local grocery stores or gas stations. They only own one car. Despite their ages and my dad's heath, they have had to manage raising children on limited income and resources and little support from others. I was not sure how much help I could be, but I wanted to be there to help and support my parents before and after my dad's surgery.
The surgery was to help restore blood circulation to his foot. His does not have diabetes, but has had poor circulation in his veins and arteries for years. He has had most of the veins in his left leg replaced. Veins have been taken from his arms and used elsewhere. He has had surgery on his right leg before and has plastic veins in it. For some reason, there was no blood flow below the knee of his right leg so one of the surgeons recommend amputation of the leg above the knee. Another surgeon suggested they wait until they open his leg and see what other options they may have. During surgery, the doctors found a functioning vein below the knee which ran to the foot. The vein which was not functioning was replaced with a vein from a cadaver and connected to a working vein in the thigh area and the working vein in the shin area. He stay in the hospital a few days to ensure the vein would continue to function and provide blood flow to his foot. He has a strong pulse in his foot. My step mother and I took turns staying with him in the hospital. Once home, I was able to help with getting the children to school, getting him to the bathroom, in and out of his chair, making him comfortable, staying with him so my stepmother could go to the grocery store, taking him to a doctor's appointment., etc.
When he went into surgery, my stepmother, father and I had some of the same fears. Would he survive? Would he lose and leg and if so, could he return home? How would my stepmother be able to manage a 6', 280 lb man? How would she be able to manage the children without him? When I found out he was not going to lose his leg and he could eventually return home, all I could do was cry and be thankful he was still alive.
This may be more information than requested, but I want to some how convey how important it was for my father and me to be there during this time. I am very fortunate to still have my father in my life at our ages. Thank you Luke's Wings and your supporte for allowing me to have this opportunity to spend time he and his family. We not only spent time together, we got to create memories and I believe drew us closer together. I will always be grateful. Thank you.

My fiance Jessie is a double amputee, above the knee. He was injured in Afghanistan Oct. 17, 2011. Jessie and I first heard about Luke's Wings through their No Soldier Spends Christmas Alone campaign 2011 and got our first flight through them with this program. We definitely did not spend Christmas alone that year and were able to fly home to spend it with family and friends instead of in a hospital room. Since then, the organization has flown us several times, including a surprise visit to Jessie's 9 year old brother for his birthday who had not seen Jessie since before he was deployed to Afghanistan. We're very grateful for what they do, not only for us, but for the many other families that have been impacted by their flights and also their friendship. Jessie and I are so proud to be a part of the Luke's Wings Family!! I recommend Luke's Wings to all the new families at the hospital that I can.

My son CPL Joshua Lopez a US Marine, was injured in Afghanistan on April 2, 2012 while in combat after he stepped on a 40 pound IED (improvised exposive devise.) The explosion resulted in many serious injuries. My husband is self employed and I began a new job the day my son was blown up. Although we have a large family and know they need us, Joshua was a priority and being with him meant we would figure all else out later. This was the hardest experience of my life and even at my age, I had been through many trails. For my husband and I to witness our son go through so many surgical procedures sometime 2-3 per week for almost two (2) months was the worse feeling EVER! And having six (6) children at home depending on us just brought so much anguish! To be helpless and still have other life situations coming on it was very helpful to have an organization such as Luke's Wings out there making miracles happen for families who need to be together but do not have the financial means. Thanks to Luke's Wings I was able to fly back and forths from Walter Reed Medical Center where my son Joshua is a patient and home to be with my children and husband as well. I call it, "Able to be in two worlds". It's one less life stressor I as a mother and a wife had to endure because of their kindness and dedication in seeking donations/sponsors to make miracles happen. Here are my sons injuries: His pelvis was broken front & back, lacerations to the right arm, right hand wounded causing a hole through the hand, left heel was detached, lacerations to both legs from heel to up to buttocks, Left leg loss of tissue needing full skin grafting, right leg loss 15cm of tibia, muscle and tissue. Attmepts to salvage the right leg but after four (4) months in severe pain and negative results from surgeries, Joshua decided to have the lower leg amputated. Mentally he is a trooper and well! God bless Luke's Wings now and forever! I will always be humbly grateful for their existance! Mrs. Jessica Meglone-Lopez

My husband was severly wounded in Iraq in 2008. We lived in the Maryland area for 4 years while my husband spent countless hours going back and worth to Walter Reed Army Medical Center. At the end of 2011 we decided we wanted to go back to my husbands home state of Arkansas to visit with his entire family for Christmas. We were trying to plan our trip when I remembered Luke's Wings helps get soldiers home for the hoildays. I called and after some careful planning we were not only able to fly our entire family of 6 to Arkansas but they also helped us with a rental car. I'm not sure Luke's Wings even does rental cars all the time but with 4 little boys we needed a car to get around to visit family members. We spent 2 weeks reconnecting with my husbands family and enjoyed ever last minute we could with them. It was truly a blessing to have had the oppunity to not worry about ligistics and driving and hotels!! Anyone with kids knows how hard it is to plan long trips!! Thank you Luke's Wings you were a large part in our awesome family time;)

My son was critically wounded in Afghanistan last year. We live in Southern California and Justin is in Bethesda Maryland. Being that far from home it is extremely difficult. Thank Goodness for Luke's Wings helping to fly Justin and I home to be with our family for our 30 days of leave this year! We could not have done it without you! Thank you so much again..

Last September my husband lost both his legs in Afghanistan. I learned about Luke's Wings from Jennifer who we met at the Fisher House. She was so kind to our family and we now consider her a dear friend. She is always wearing a smile and has a heart of gold. Luke's Wings flew out our son and our nephew from California and our niece from Texas, during the Christmas holiday last year. That ment so much to Travis and the kids. Working with them is simple. I filled out a form and that day I was comtacted and had flights for the kids. They have helped our family two other times and we are truely THANKFUL. Our Family Loves Luke's Wings! Thank You so Much for what you do for us! We will always be THANKFUL.

My son was wounded in Afghanistan on May 8th. We received word of his injuries shortly thereafter. At first we were in shock that our son had lost both legs, the right leg just below the knee and his left leg at the knee. He had sustained other injuries, but the report led us to believe that Colton was in critical but stable condition in a medical facility in Afghanistan. He was transported to three different facilities in Afghanistan and finally flown to Landstuhl, Germany. After the initial shock, my wife and I spent a few days crying. Our hearts were broken until we heard our sons voice from a hospital bed in Germany. He assured us that everything would be alright. He even said that when he returned home he was going to be "patient, kind, and nice." We were amazed at his perspective and attitude. After talking to him we became a little more hopeful. Colton arrived at Walter Reed National Medical Military Center on May 13th. We flew out on the 15th and were so glad to see our son. He was still alive. HIs injuries could have been way worse. He had both his hands and his mental faculties. It was during this five day visit that we learned of the Semper Fi Fund, Luke's Wings, and other non-profit organizations that help families of wounded warriors. Through SSgt. Lippold we were introduced to Jennifer Magerer, who works with Luke's Wings. As I stated before we were greatly encouraged and given hope when we heard my sons voice from Germany. He was alive. The same is true with Luke's Wings. When we heard what they were able to do for us in providing travel expenses and making reservations for our travel to and from the Bethesda area we were given hope and in turn Colton would be given hope and greatly encouraged by family members and friends who would be able to visit with him. To date, thousands of dollars of airfare have been provided to my family. Both sets of grandparents from Colorado have been out to see Colton. Colton's girl friend has flown from Florida to see Colton numerous times. A friend from the Marine Corp from California was supplied funds for travel. Colton's immediate family has been provided airfare for many, many airplane rides across the country from Colorado. Colton has even had the joy of tossing his little niece in the air on two different occasions. I just got back from Walter Reed this past weekend (9/14-9/17). My son and I were participants in the Navy 5-miler. Colton and I completed the race. We didn't set any records, but all were amazed that just four months after being severely wounded Colton was able to walk five miles with his prosthesis. Incidently, my daughter and grand daughter accompanied me on this trip provided by none other than Luke's Wings. Thank God for his healing touch in Colton's life. Thank God for a great supportive and praying family. Thank God for our kind, generous and praying friends. Thank God for Luke's Wings and all their kind, caring, and hardworking staff. Jennifer Magerer has been our contact. Thank you Jennifer for all you do. You all have made a tremendous difference, giving us hope and many wonderful times together with the family and with Colton. This time spent with him has sped up the healing process (mentally, physically, emotionally). Because of all of this Colton will be coming home soon. Thank you Luke's Wings.

My son in law was severely injured in Afghanistan this past April, he lost all of his limbs which has been terribly tragic for him, his wife and baby girl. Shortly after we arrived at Walter Reed, we were approached by the nicest, sweetest, most generous representatives from Luke's Wings. They have flown several members of our family to and from Walter Reed a number of times, so that we could help during this most difficult, life-altering time in our children's lives. With out the help of Luke's Wings, there is no way we could have been there to help out. The people that work for this loving organization have brought baked goods to the soldiers, they come and talk to the families and quickly become friends to those of us who are like fish out of water. It's very hard dealing with a tragedy when it hits, and it's harder when you're in an unfamiliar city with unfamiliar faces and the constant worry about your loved one. Lukes Wings was a God send for our family and they continue to help us five months later, it's been vital in our soldier's recovery. Thank you to ALL that work for Luke's Wings and to the generous donors.