In our time of need during this pandemic, my child that suffers from a chronic medical illness needed a flight from Mississippi to her medical team in Omaha Nebraska for surgery. I was worried about flying with her on a commercial flight due to the virus and wanted to keep her safe. Angel flights was there for us and the pilots were amazing! We thank y’all so much for helping us and making sure we got to the hospital safely. We will definitely consider flying again in the future! Thanks again! - The Norfleet Family
I am a kidney transplant patient. We’re not for Angel Flight Soars it would’ve been nearly impossible for me to get with Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville Florida soon enough to receive my donated Kidney. Angel Flight Soars stayed in touch with me diligently for 3 1/2 years as I waited for “Bakkal I am a kidney transplant patient. We’re not for Angel Flight Soars it would’ve been nearly impossible for me to get with Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville Florida soon enough to receive my donated Kidney. Angel Flight Soars stayed in touch with me diligently for 3 1/2 years as I waited for “the call” That a kidney was available. The call came at 3 AM Sunday morning. Both Angel Flight Soars and Pilot were right on top of things. I arrived in Jacksonville a few hours later I had the transplant surgery that day
I have volunteered on several occasions for this wonderful organization. They are a 5 star team dedicated to providing for their community. I am honored to have had the opportunity to help out just a little and I look forward to continuing to volunteer.
As an Angel Flight pilot, I work with several wonderful groups that coordinate flights to get hurting people from their home to distant treatment facilities and back. This is a tremendously rewarding undertaking. Angel Flight Soars makes coordination of these flights and vetting patients a breeze for us as pilots and I’m sure for the patient also. Flight segments and rendezvous points are sensibly chosen to facilitate distance, fuel requirements, patient comfort, instrument approach availability, and safety aspects. Frequently free ground transportation is also available and is factored into the coordination puzzle. When pilots request route or transfer airports changes, AF Soars is most accommodating.
The aircraft, fuel, and pilot services are solely provided by volunteer pilots like myself and costs of the flight are totally the responsibility of the pilots. Angel Flights Soars is only a coordination and service center for pilots and patients. No compensation is provided to pilots by either Angel Flight Soars or the patient. Our reward is “thank you” and the smile on our passenger’s face resulting from having flown four or five hours in a general aviation aircraft instead of a ten or more hours car trip. Invariably our flights result in making a new friendship or renewing connections with people requiring multiple Angel Flights for recurring treatment or follow-up checks.
My most memorable experiences as an Angel Flight pilot involved transporting Richard Norris. First was a flight from Atlanta to his home in Hillsville, VA and months later a flight with Richard from Baltimore, MD back home to Hillsville. Richard is the person who received the first full face transplant in the United States. On the first flight, Richard was wearing a mask to hide his horribly disfigured lower face. The next trip was months after he had undergone the thirty-some hour face transplant surgery. On arrival in Baltimore as I walked into the general aviation fixed base, I saw Richard and said, “Hi Richard”. He turned towards me and the first words out of his mouth were “How do you like my new face”! I nearly broke into tears of joy as I saw that beautiful face! Hundreds of medical personnel, numerous Angel Flights, and a miraculous day-and-a-half of intense surgery had come together to give Richard his life back. I was overjoyed to be just a very small part of Richard’s journey.
God has blessed me with the knowledge, skill, and resources to fly airplanes. I continue to be blessed as I utilize those gifts to help others needing air transportation to and from distant medical facilities.
Doin’ HIS thing,
Bob Oglesby
Picture is of Richard six months after face transplant surgery (center), Chuck Foster (left), and me on the right.
What an amazing organization. I cannot say enough good things about how Angel Flight, and all of their volunteers. Angel Flight is run with love and it shows through in everything that they do.
I was in need of a kidney transplant, waiting on the list for 5 years. I originally only signed up for one facility thinking that's all I needed to do but found out a year later I needed to multi list to have a better chance. Unfortunately I couldn't afford to travel to other facilities to go thru the evaluation process but then I
found out about Angel Flight Soars!!! They provide complimentary transportation to patients needing assistance to travel for evaluatios, appointments, etc.
They flew me to facilities (5) for my kidney transplant evaluations and had a pilot scheduled to fly me for my actual transplant, May 23, 2021. They are still assisting me by flying to my follow-up visits, they are a lifesaver! The pliots are awesome, volunteering their time, planes, and gas. My latest trip (September 7th-10th) with Dave Ballard, Brian Hood (flew thru a storm ⛈ to get me to my destination), and Richard Langer was great. The staff is friendly and very helpful! Courtney Chambers was awesome to work with. She always responded quickly and treated my needs with the proper sense of urgency. I would and have recommended Angel Flight Soars for any patient / caregiver needing transportation flight needs .
My sons school closed last year due to Covid. He returned home depressed. His depression continued and his world became darker and darker. His mom, a travel nurse was 6 months into a contract, list contact when he stopped communicating. On March 1st he attempted suicide by pouring gasoline on his body and igniting. His burns cover 79% of his body and he has spent 5 months in ICU. He cannot sit in a car for the 3 hours to make it to the hospital he needs for treatment. His case worker scheduled the angel flight and then we were told he was refused. I can’t imagine refusing someone who is recovering after losing his faith in humanity. It is beyond shocking and the exact opposite behavior I exhibit as a healthcare professional. I look forward to the day I can bring up these gross misconducts on a larger platform. No one is more deserving than this young man. Your judgement of others to say the least is less than angelic.
Their name says it all! Angels, every last one of them. Not just the pilots, but the staff as well. From the moment you reach out and tell them your story they feel your struggle and go to work. They work tirelessly to ensure you reach your destination and receive the care you need. True miracle workers. When my wife and I contacted them in May to start planning a trip from McDonough, GA to NYC, we assumed most of the burden for reaching out to pilots, planning pick-ups, and wrangling all the details would fall on our shoulders. I'm happy to admit I was dead wrong. After filling out a few forms, I was told to relax and let them handle it all....and they did. A few weeks later, I was contacted by the pilots taking us to NYC and they gave us all the details of when, where, and how. My wife is dealing with Prophylactic Double Mastectomy with Reconstruction and as you can imagine, there are quite a few details to handle with a surgery of that magnitude. It was a joy and a relief to have one of those big details (travel) removed from my plate and dealt with so smoothly. I cannot say enough about Angel Flight Soars, Inc. They truly are a miracle. We are so grateful to all of them. We've never met, but they treat us like family. And not just any family...I'm talking the good kind. The kind you like and want to hang out with. Thank you and we love y'all to the bottom or our hearts.
July 23, 2020, my husband was diagnosed with Stage IV Esophageal cancer. The prognosis was grim; 50% make it 6 months and 10% make it a a year. MD Anderson said the best treatment for him was in a Trial Study with treatments every three weeks u til the drug is approved or the worst happens. MDA by car is 8 hours one way. We found out the same trial was offered in Nashville at 5 hrs one way. While we have been driving for about 13 of 16 trips so far, the trips Angel Flight has been able to provide for us have been a God send. It is such a blessing to be able to fly. We often feel guilty for flying at no cost, but we sure enjoy the conversation, kindness, compassion and convenience it offers. Thank you so much pilots, staff, financial supporters and everyone involved!
We are also thankful for his continued improvement and reports…a whole year later!!!! Miracles are still being performed!
Thank You so much Angel Flights because of you and guys like these we can fly comfortably to the hospital. I wish I could donate millions because patients need it including myself ❤️
May God continue to Bless you all
Dear Pilot Julian Joffe and Angel Flight,
We cannot thank you enough for carrying our aunt safely in your plane from Columbus, Ga., to West Palm Beach, Fla., on March 12, 2021!
At the time of that flight, our aunt had suffered a stroke that limited her ability to speak and to swallow. Because she was reliant on a feeding tube through her abdomen and was unable to fully communicate, she was very vulnerable and in need of significant medical care and support, complicated by COVID-19 protocols.
By transporting her (accompanied by her 79-year-old sister) here to Palm Beach County, you enabled her to be surrounded by loved ones who could ensure she had the medical care, companionship and services needed during her recovery.
Over the past four months, our aunt has worked hard to regain her speech, strengthen her arms and legs, and restore her health. She has been motivated to participate in speech therapy, physical therapy and occupational therapy. Her presence here in Palm Beach County has meant that her family members could care for her and take her to medical appointments – and, especially, that she could participate in COVID-restricted family gatherings and celebrations, including her own 82nd birthday!
Our aunt has made amazing progress since her stroke on February 23, 2021, and we believe that would not have been possible without your assistance.
Pilot Joffe rolled out the red carpet for our aunt (literally), and he continued to check on her after her arrival. For your compassionate customer service and caring heart, we thank you!
Thank you, Angel Flight Soars and Pilot Joffe, for your generosity and thoughtfulness, and for being such an important part of our aunt’s healing journey!
They are so very kind and caring! When I was put in the hospital during the freeze in 2021 my husband had no way to get back to our Arkansas farm, we had came down on Angel Flight and he needed to get back. They told me they couldn't fly him home unless thr patient was on the flight. They got him a commercial flight that night.
My family and I live in Atlanta. My husband and I were struggling with deciding to take our son to a much-needed medical appointment in Baltimore. We had thought we could do some of the appointment over telehealth , but then, about a week before the appointment we learned that the medical and therapy licensing wouldn't allow the providers to work across state lines. However, we were concerned that driving 20 hours, total, back and forth would take a toll on our son prior to the appointment, not to mention increase the risk of COVID with multiple stops. We had the same concerns regarding COVID with commercial flights, as our son has epilepsy as part of his condition and is at a higher risk of seizures if exposed. I also was very concerned about our stress and anxiety level on a flight where our 4 year old special needs son likely would not be willing to wear a mask the entire flight and would make a lot of noise. I happened to see a flyer for Angel Flight when I was at another non-profit that I participate in with my son. I called on a Thursday to see if they could help us get to our appointment, which we needed to leave for by Sunday, with less stress and more safely. Despite the last minute notice, Angel Flights worked to help us get all of our travel coordinated. I sobbed with relief when I found out that we could take private flights to and from our appointment. It was a shining bright spot in the middle of a lot of worry for our son's health. Not to mention that all of our flights were enjoyable - with the kindest and most generous pilots. I cannot even begin to express the amount of gratitude we have for this organization and the volunteer pilots and what wonderful things it is/they are doing to help lighten the load of so many people.
I have been flying missions for almost 20 years. Because I fly to CA each winter I fly missions on the west coast as well. I have met so many nice people and they are very grateful. Doing Angel Flight missions is truly a “double dip”. I’m helping someone and doing something I love.
John D KPDK KTRM
In a time where commercial air travel is dangerous for people like me with a low white blood count, Angel Flight Soars took a lot of stress away from my already stressful situation!! Angel Flight Soars and their incredibly selfless pilots have transported me to/from my chemo treatments at National Institute of Health in Maryland! Because of Angel Flight Soars, I am able to see one of the best surgical oncologists for stomach cancer!! I have been so blessed by this non-profit! They make the impossible possible!! Thankyou Angel Flight Soars!!!
We were speechless when we were told that the Angel flights will fly us from Mississippi to Augusta and back with no cost, but that wasn’t what has kept this organization in our hearts and prayers since 2015, the people and the 5different pilots that flew us more than once is what made your organization not just the best, but the most caring, compassionate group of people I’ve ever met.
Not only we were treated like customers that paid top money to fly in private jets but our daughter was gifted a lovely gift bag for Easter by one of our pilots. He saw our daughter when he picked us up from MS and on our return he brought her a gift bag. You are all are a blessing to this country. Love and appreciate you all.
Angel Flight Soats has saved my life & many others lives by getting me to the crucial treatments & appointments I need. It's very risky & dangerous to ride in a car for even 1 & 1/2hrs or fly commercial due to my condition & having no Immune System. Everyone involved: The staff behind the scenes who coordinates each mission (Eath Angels), the pilots (Angels In The Skies) & their families that generously donate their time & planes. Also, the staff at each Airport & all the "Earth Angels" who donate their time & vehicles to provide transportation to & from the Airports to Doctors Appointments. I am truly Blessed each time I come in contact with anyone at Angel Flight Soars whom is always so kind, gracious & very heartfelt. I would recommend them to anyone in need & if I could give them 10 Stars I would :) Thank You Angel Flight Soars for all you do!!
Tiffany :)
My son Carter Irby has been flying through angel flight for about 15 years now... yes that is how long this amazing organization has been taking us back and forth to our appointment s in Norfolk Virginia. We live eight hours away in Asheville and if it wasn't for the amazing pilots that volunteer their time, planes, dedications, and even their own money there is no way we would be able to see the Dr and keep up with Carter's progress and his future surgeries. They are always so kind they offer us waters, snacks and we talk about our lives together over the headsets... May God Bless each snd every pilot... aldo I would like to say what a wonderful job the ladies at the office do in scheduling our pilots for us... they are constantly emailing us letting us know if they are still working on a pilot or if they have found us one.. suoer sweet to talk to over the phone... God Bless them as well.. THANK YOU SO MUCH ANGEL FLIGHT for all you have done for my son and I!!
Angel Flight Soars has been amazing every time they assist my daughter and I in getting to her medical appointments in another state at least once a year. If it wasn’t for them my daughter would’ve miss important appointments this year. Especially during this Covid19 pandemic when my 6yr old daughter can’t wear a mask due to medical so it’s not safe to fly commercial being immune compromised. They have been caring and supportive all while being professional and consistent on every mission.
I had the privilege of working with the great people at Angel Flight Soars for a number of years as a partner in the charitable aviation industry. They do an amazing job of f filling flights and staying mission focused. They are a small but might organization!
Angel Flight Soars is amazing! They have transported me and my 3 special needs daughters from Virginia to Nationwide Children's Hospital in Ohio and back numerous times over the last 5 years. They are dependable, professional, and are a pleasure to deal with. They are very eager to help make the flights a pleasurable experience. At first I was a little uneasy at the idea of taking our daughters on a flight with a pilot whom we did not know, but we have been extremely impressed with the character of the pilots that they work with. They are the best. Thank you Angel Flights for making our not-so-great hospital visits manageable!
I have a complicated eye condition, and the best help for me is in Ann Arbor. Michigan, at the Kellogg Eye Center. Without Angel Flight Soars, I would have absolutely not been able to get the expert interventions I needed. The pilots have been kind, friendly, professional, competent and generous with their time and equipment. The pilots make me feel SAFE, and that is really important! Angel Flight staff is equally helpful, and they have never let me down. They provide a wonderful service to so many!
Don't know what my family would do without Angel Flight! I have been going to Augusta for laser surgery monthly for 2 years. My family took so much time off when I was burned on November 10th, 2016. I was hospitalized for 3 months and in a coma for 2 of those months. My family was called in 3 times to tell me goodbye. It would be such a hardship on my family to take off monthly for these laser surgeries on my skin grafts. Thanks to Angel Flight they can work their jobs!
This fantastic charity changed my life by giving me the opportunity to travel to NY from GA to have surgery to remove my GIST tumor. Without these great pilots and their organization, my second opinion surgery would not have been possible. Thanks to these folks for all they do.
Our first child, Oliver, was born with a rare genetic mutation that resulted in severe medical complications, and developmental delays. Just after his first birthday he needed attention from specialists that were only available in 2 cities nationally. We chose to travel to Cincinnati for the procedure, but commercial air was not an option for us. Angel Flight Soars was there for us, making the trip as stress free as possible. This is one of the greatest services and causes around, and every time I meet someone with a pilot's license I make sure they know about Angel Flight Soars and how they helped us give our son a fulfilling and happy life.
I thank God for your services. My son and I was in the best care during our flight from Augusta, GA to Greenwood, MS when my son was released the J B Stills Burn Center. That was in May 2011 and I am still grateful.
Upon learning I had to travel over 600 miles from my home to receive cancer treatment weekly, the thought of driving was exhausting on top of me not feeling well. A nurse told me about Angel Flight. It has made the commute to and from treatment much easier on me and my family. Fighting cancer is hard enough, add travel to the mix and it is exhausting. So thankful for Angel Flight and all the pilots giving of their time. Because of you, I can get to and from treatment and return home to my family.
From my husband and me, we would like to say thank you so much for the wonderful experience we had this past week with AngelFlight and the outstanding and kind pilots.
This was a truly once in a lifetime and amazing experience; a blessing to us both.
The team at AngelFliht was so kind and helpful with answering questions and getting everything organized. The pilots were courteous, professional, and truly caring and delightful. We had such pleasant conversations with each of them.
They made this trip possible for us, and understand that sharing some joy and providing trips like this really does make a difference in the lives of patient-clients. It was so nice to, for a time, to enjoy a trip not thinking about doctors appointments and medications and medical bills. They brought us a blessing and we thank God for them.
Due to the effects of End Stage Renal Disease, I am unable to drive the necessary distance from my home to the transplant center. Angel Flight Soars has been (and will continue to be) a lifesaver for me. They already have 2 local pilots available for me when I get THE CALL and time becomes critical.
Everyone, from the office to the pilots I've already used are just wonderful ANGELS.
Had the need to travel from East TN to Northern VA for continuing evaluation to qualify for a kidney transplant. The 6+ hour drive is no longer an option due to my condition. Angel flight has been wonderful - from the office staff to the volunteer pilots.
Unfortunately, I'll likely need them again and will be grateful for the assistance.
With my daughter having a rare medical condition, and having to travel at least a few hours each way to get to Duke for medical specialists, it became very grueling. Once it took me 6 hours to get there because her body was in so much pain and I had to stop so many times to adjust her body and help her muscles not freeze up on her. It was then that I realized I was going to have to start coming in the night before so I would make sure we would not miss the appointment time because of the unpredictability of transporting her there.
I was at a Christmas party and someone overheard my friend asking about my daughter, and her treatments being so far away that I now have to have her miss two days of school, drive in the night before and get a hotel, pay for meals and gas etc, just for her to see one specialist. The woman asked if I had ever heard of Angel Flight Soars, and gave me all the information to contact them.
It was such a blessing to have come across Angel Flight Soars! To be able to now get in and out on the same day is life changing! It cuts down on the travel time which in turn provides my daughter with more comfort. She goes through so much medically, that having the ability to get to and from doctors without physical distress, (which turns into mental anxiety for her) is a huge relief and one less thing to worry about when seeking medical treatment. Thank you Angel Flight Soars for making the medical world a little easier to cope with!
Angel Flight has been a life saver. I have a rare brain tumorand needed to see a doctor more than 8 hours away from me. I contacted them and they made me feel so comfortable. They answered every question within an hour. When the trip finally came I was so nervous but every pilot I had was amazing and I trusted everyone of them. Not being able to drive or afford to fly to get the medical treatment you need is stressful but with Angel Flights they try to take some of that away. Every pilot made me feel like I was a VIP and the are just so friendly. I will never be able to repay the them for what they have done for me.
This group made us feel like royalty. So thankful for this organization. This year has been tough and they just made our lives a little easier with a trip to Gainesville. I am in the midst of chemo battling breast cancer, a single mom needing to get my special needs son to Gainesville, FL to see his endocrinologist. The trip from Chattanooga driving is 10 hours! I'm not sure how we would have made it this year for his annual appointment if it wasn't for Angel Flight Soars! Everything about this trip was great: the scheduling, the pilots and the jets!
i would like to take a moment to thank Angel Flight for all they do. They helped me get to my dad in Atlanta JUST in time for his last minute major surgery. Its people like this that truly inspires others. It meant so much to me and my family as i had been out of work alot with going back and forth and his surgery was last minute so my funds was stretched.. I thank god for organizations such as Angel Flight. My dad passed away that same year but with yalls help i was able to get to be there for him in his time of need. Thank you again,
April A. Frazier
It's hard put into words how much Angel Flight means to my family, friends, and me. For many years, I have struggled to arrange transportation between Tifton and Emory for medical care. I have been legally blind for about ten years and after exhausting family and friends to assist with my needs, I heard about Angel Flight. For the last four years, I have been fortunate to have the support of Angel Flight as my condition declines. Everyone I have encountered with Angel Flight from the schedulers to the pilots have been loving and kind. The relationships developed through this experience have left footprints in my heart.
I have been volunteering since July of 2018. I truly believe that unlike other "non-profits" this is truly a hard working organization with a very small portion of donations going to overhead. This is really important to me.
Every day I see profiles of people from 2 months old to 90+ that Angel Flight helps. You would not believe the number of people with afflicting diseases that need help, from needing an organ transplant, burns, cancer and so many others that possibly would not get help without Angel Flight. The pilots that volunteer their aircraft, time, and fuel are the real Angels. The supporting staff facilitates these flights to get the medical treatments people desperately need. And all for a simple "Thank you!"
Every day that you wake up and feel good, you should be so happy because there are so many others in need. Angel flight has a direct positive impact on so many people. I am proud to be a volunteer and help.
Angel Flight Soars was recommended to us by a friend from our church after we learned of my wife's need to travel on an ongoing basis from our home in southeast Tennessee to The Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland Ohio. Living on a fixed income and having traveled for almost twenty years for her treatments has taken it's toll. Angel Flight Soars has stepped in to fill a place not only in our budget but more importantly in our heart ❤. We are currently only in the middle portion of our first mission flight. Giving been flown five hundred miles one way for my wife to have a new cutting edge surgery that could make a significant difference in her life if her outcome goes as planned. We then still have the return two legs to complete the mission. The team of support personnel at Angel Flight have been wonderful and organized. Our first two volunteer pilots, Peter and Richard were well " angels ". These people volunteer their time, planes, expenses and anything else you think of to get sick people help where they may not be able to otherwise. One of angels also rescues pets. What else can you say about a group of people that just want to help other people. God Bless them all at Angel Flight Soars.
Mike and Mary
My Aunt has cancer and was really struggling trying to get from North Carolina to her treatments in Georgia. As time went on, it was harder and harder for her because of the chemo. Once angel flight started taking her to her treatments it's been so much better for her. I don't think she'd still he with us without angel flights help.
We needed to fly up north for my daughter’s surgery and Angel Flight Soars came through! The 2 pilots that volunteered were super nice and made us feel very welcome and safe. It was our daughter’s first time flying and she loved it! Angel Flight Soars is an amazing organization and we’re so grateful that we found them!
Angel flight soars is a wonderful organization that I believe is truly saving my life. Every week I have to go to Nashville TN for my clinical trial. This trial is the only hope that I have to live and spend time with 14 year old daughter and 3 year old son. I was diagnosed with Metastasized Breast cancer in June 2018 after being in remission for a year of triple negative breast cancer. This is better than being sick in the car for 9 hours. I appreciate it so much.
Angel Flights has helped us travel to many medical appointments and surgeries. I don’t know how we would do it without them!
Angel Flight Soars is a wonderful organization made up of some of the most caring and helpful people. I am so thankful that Angel Flight was able to arrange my trip from Mississippi to Pittsburgh to be evaluated as a potential kidney donor for Lilah Kate(who is also one of Angel Flight’s patients). The four volunteer pilots were all so kind and professional. I am so happy to report that I was a match. Lilah received a liver transplant on 7-31-18 from another living donor and then on 8-1-18 she received my kidney. Lilah Kate is recovering in the hospital at Pittsburgh and both of her new organs are functioning great!
The Angel Flight staff and one of my pilots have been so kind and caring to check in for updates during this process. Thank you all for the difference that you make daily in the lives of so many people!!! I will always remember your kindness.
Sincerely,
Melissa (Missy)
Angel Flight Soars flew my son and me out to Cincinnati Children's Eosinophilic Clinic last spring. He has a rare adult blood disorder involving his eosinophils. Since these white blood cells attack his body when they are high, he can't be exposed to all the germs on a regular flight. Also,he was the first child at UNC Children's to be diagnosed with this adult disorder, so we needed for him to be seen by doctors who have treated children with this; however, the medical debt we have accumulated these past four years were preventing the trip until we found Angel Flight Soars! What a blessing!!
I was told of Angel Flights Soar and was signed up within a week of receiving my 4am call on April 10th.David Hesse was our pilot that donated his time,experience,plane and fuel to fly from Nashville To Knoxville to pick us up and take us to Vanderbilt for a heart transplant we had a four hour limit to get there with an hour to spare.I think Angel Flights and my new friend David Hesse for there caring and kindness for patients like me taking a big stress off us during these times.
Jon Anderson
Angel Flight Soars is so AMAZING! I'm so very thankful for them providing this important service. I have been suffering with a CSF leak and a spinal injury and needed to be transported to Duke University Hospital for proper treatment. The pilots were very accommodating and very gracious and kind. Angelina is absolutely the BEST! It's very difficult when you are in such severe pain and everyone involved brought light to a very dark time. MANY THANKS
I have delt with chronic liver failure and pancreatitis for several years. At the urging of my family and physicians, I agreed to go to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida to see if they could heal me. I was looking at a daunting 7 hour+ drive. With my 24/7 pain and nausea, this drive was not an option that I was willing to try.
After speaking with my priest, he told me about 'Angel Flight Soars. I filled out the online questionnaire and in no time at all, I received a phone call from Angelina advising me of the acceptance of my mission. I have since flown with them 4 times, and God willing will continue to do so as the Mayo Clinic continues to work with me.
Angel Flight Soars, their office staff, organizers, ground crew, and pilots have all been a blessing. I would not have made it this far without each and every member of Angel Flight Soars.
Thank you.
Sincerely, Jennifer D.
When my mother received her cancer diagnosis I knew I wanted her to receive treatment near me in GA, but she lives in NC we didn’t know how we could afford her constant visits. Angel Flights has been an amazing service that makes things easier on her, me and our entire family. My children share in the excitement of seeing the planes come and go and make a hard situation a little easier and the pilots are the kindest, most sincere people I’ve ever met! To give of their time, effort and funds in this way is a blessing to us and to all I have the opportunity to share the experience with. The staff have also been so accommodating and helpful. Thank you for all you do!
I'm a Mississippi based volunteer pilot with Angel Flight Soars. Over the last few years as my work schedule allows, I've increased the number of missions I fly for them. I've had the pleasure of getting to know most of the staff and would be hard pressed to speak highly enough of them. Director of Missions Bernadette Darnell and her mission coordinators Angelina and Ciara routinely go over and above for patients to ensure that their medical transportation needs are fulfilled. Bernadette runs a tight ship and is a "make things happen" kind of person with extraordinary influence. Executive Director Jeanine Chambers and her staff work tirelessly to secure the donations that are their operational lifeblood and stretch every dollar as far as possible to ensure that they have the funds to continue their vital mission. Jeanine is an example of someone who is ideally suited for her role, her people skills are as highly refined as I've ever seen. This organization operates so efficiently that they make a very difficult job look easy. This is by far the best run non profit organization that I've ever worked with and I give them my highest recommendation and rating.
It took us seven years and an introduction to Angel Flight to get to this point of smiles. Seven years of anaphylaxis attacks without any doctors in the southeast being able to tell my daughter, Emily, why these episodes were occurring. Five years into these flares Emily was referred to a specialist in Minnesota. Being strapped with medical bills from numerous doctors, hospital and medical tests made the thought of traveling to Minnesota from South Carolina almost an impossibility; until we were introduced to Angel Flight.
Angel Flight allowed us to visit a world renown specialist, Dr. Afrin. It was during this appointment that Emily was diagnosed with Mast Cell Activation Disorder. While there is currently no known cure, this trip allowed Emily to gain a diagnosis and a treatment plan. This treatment plan has allowed her to return to college where she previously had to take a medical leave of absence. Without Angel Flight, Emily would not have been able to see Dr. Afrin and regain her sense of normalcy (as normal as one can get with an incurable disease).
As a mother, I am forever grateful to the Angel Flight organization. You took a tremendous amount of stress off my family by assisting us in our endeavors to see Dr. Afrin. Truly we would not have been able to undertake this referral without their assistance!
March of 2015 took a turn of events that impacted our life when during a routine eye exam revealed that my 21 year old daughter Celeste was about to embark on an unwelcome journey. Her eye doctor noticed that both of her optic nerves were swollen. She would later learn after a few MRI scans and a biopsy, that she was now diagnosed with cancer. A stage III-IV aggressive brain tumor called an Anaplastic Astrocytoma Glioma. In January 2016, Celeste was able to have a successful craniotomy performed at Duke University. Her yearly follow-up appointment was in December 2016. Due to the nature of her diagnosis and the damage the tumor has done, this can make traveling for her a very taxing feat. We live in N.W. Georgia, which is a 10 plus hour drive one way to Duke in Durham, N.C. The idea of her traveling for that many hours created a lot of anxiety, and with her symptoms of what is considered an active brain injury, can cause her to have a lot of unwanted side effects when undue stress enters her daily routine. That is when I sought out Angel Flight Soars. I needed to find a much quicker and less stressful way to get her to this important follow-up appointment. After filling out the online form and got approved, I began corresponding with a mission operation assistant, Ciara Schaff. She was very pleasant and quick to respond to any questions or concerns I had. She also helped us unexpectedly by arranging an Earth Angel Ed Spencer to assist us once we landed. This helped lessen the burden tremendously for me trying to figure out how to get from point A to B in an unfamiliar area. Between her and others working together, Ciara was able to arrange Celeste’s travels to and from Dalton Municipal Airport to Raleigh-Durham Airport. The Pilots were amazing! It turned what would have been a 20 plus hour round trip drive, into a 6 hour round trip flight. That helped us physically, emotionally and financially. Both pilots, Doug Ellis and Paul Davis made us feel accepted, safe and comfortable. We could tell that safety was their priority, and they loved doing what they do. They welcomed us into their plane and by listening to their flight decisions over the headsets further displayed safety was of the utmost. Celeste and I, along with others can not thank Angel Flight Soars enough for the generous accommodations and compassion offered to those who are in need of assistance. Angel Flight Soars gave us peace and hope, during a time that would have otherwise been challenging and possibly detrimental to the progress of Celeste’s continued recovery. This is not only important to the patient involved, it is also important to those who love them. Thank YOU ALL at Angel Flight Soars and thank you to those who contribute towards making this all possible!! The benefits of having an organization such as Angel Flight Soars is an asset to our country and to those they love to serve. This was truly an answer to prayer. Once again, Thank you!
The best Medical Transportation in this country! From the top down they all treat you like family and are part of my immediate support system!! I have had several opportunities to fly with some of the most brilliant pilots from Brad with Civil Air Patrol to Doug who has more flexibility then most people half his age, like literally! In doing this i developed a passion for flying and thus far has 8 flight hours only 12 more to go, then instrumental certification and the 250hrs required to fly for this NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION! Just that simple from Jeannie, Bernadette, Angelina, Clair and Lindsey to Landmark Aviation and Epps Aviation my mind is intent on starting this assignment for humanity sake! People are out here in this country with severe health issues, life or death situations but because of Angel Flight Soars we are able to get to treatment almost immediately without cost to me or my family as well a others privately!!! Can't ask for better than that at all, America has always been great but supporting a GREAT NON-PROFIT, now that makes America Greater than great!!
Respectfully Submitted,
Helen E. Lindsey
Our son was burned severely in October of 2016 and has required 11 surgeries and a lengthy stay in the WellStar Cobb JMS Burn center in, GA. He was released 12/31 of 2016 and was being treated at the JMS outpatient facility in Valdosta, GA. On 2/15/17 we found out he had a bone infection that required immediate attention at the JMS Burn Center in Augusta, GA. JMS's Sherry Videtto contacted Angelina Chaudoin with the Angel Flight organization that coordinated a flight to Augusta on 2/19/17. Mr. David Martin picked us up at the scheduled time at the Northwest Florida International airport in his Cirrus SR22 aircraft. He is a very competent, proficient, and personable pilot that we were fortunate enough to have on the return flight from Augusta to Panama City Beach on 2/25/17 after Corey's surgery. I cannot say enough about how professional and caring everyone was based on the situation. We thank you Angelina, Sherry, and David from the bottom of our hearts. God Bless you all.
A check-up visit to my doctor in mid October changed my life in a huge way! Hi, my name is Maurice and on that day I was completely surprised to learn that I had Stomach Cancer. I knew that I had not been feeling as usual but had no idea of the challenge I was about to face. Deciding on a treatment Facility was my first challenge and after long consideration and a visit I choose The Cancer Treatment Center in Atlanta. This brought on another challenge in that I live in South Carolina about 400 miles from the treatment facility. This is about a 7hr drive and left me completely exhausted after treatment and the ride. I had to find another way given the long trip and the financial hardship of the trips. I searched the web for travel support and luckily I found Angel Flights and read about their support for people like me. From day one they have been a blessing in my life and have agreed to help me with my travels to and from Atlanta. Little did I know that there was such great people standing by too help me and others who needed their assistance. I will never forget their willingness to help me and look forward to thanking each and everyone of their staff for a Job well done! Thanks you all for helping me to save my life!
During the spring of 2015, our 16 year old, very healthy, son began coughing uncontrollably much of his days. The cough turned into uncontrollable asthma that had us us back and forth between the PCP and the E.R. all spring and summer. We were referred to UNC Children's Hospitals where extensive bloodwork revealed alarmingly high counts for his white blood, in particular, his Eosinophils were at the dangerous level of 3500 (normal range is below 100.) All white blood cells are designed to fight off "intruders" in the body except these guys were attacking his major organs: his heart, lungs, GI tract, and sinuses. Our son was failing fast. A bone marrow biopsy revealed a rare adult blood disorder called Hyper Eosinophilic Syndrome that 10 in one million adults have. There is no cure. Since his diagnosis, we have practically lived at UNC; he has a specialist for every organ that has been infiltrated, 8 to be exact! Unfortunately however, his body has rejected the customary treatments which brought us to the Cincinnati Clinic for Eosinophilic Disorders. They are very anxious to help us with our son's care. However, Medicaid will not pay for this treatment since it is out of state. We started a Gofundme account one month ago and watched God provide all $20,000 needed for the treatment at this clinic. We also needed to fly there since our son is too weak to endure a ten hour car ride. The medical debt we have accrued over the past couple of years prevented us from being able to afford two plane tickets AND his weakened immune system prevents us from being in crowded places like a commercial airline. I can't thank Angel Wings enough for helping us with providing the care our son desperately needs!! As his mom, I have had to fight doctors, pharmacists, Medicaid, and Disability for a 2 years now. THIS was effortless!!! I filled out the paperwork. You called me 2 days later and 2 days after that, we were approved!! Do you know what that meant to me?!! I am a weary mom and I feel like you have lifted me up on His wings. God has not only cared for every minute detail for my son through you guys, but He has also cared for his exhausted mom through the amazing Angel Wings staff!! Thank you hardly seems enough.
As a Dialysis patient who continually faces challenges associated with FSGS kidney disease there is nothing more important than meeting medical appointments. However this in itself presents various complications such as time-restraints, medical needs for travel and others that must be considered especially on long travel requirements. That’s when the great service of Angel Flight has come in to play accommodating these necessities with qualified pilots and staff personnel to ensure I made my appointment. Specifically Angel Flight it provided an invaluable service to accommodate every necessity in traveling to and from designated long-distant appointment. More impressive was the congeniality of my pilot and the staff members who set-up the arrangements. In considering the many challenges of battling this disease there is no doubt that the service of Angel Flight is key and offers a very accommodating service.
Sincerely,
Rodney Williams
Our daughter sustained a brachial plexus injury at birth. After months of therapy, surgery was inevitable. In a last ditch effort, we were able to make an appointment with a specialist in Philadelphia. Our physical therapist suggested we contact Angel Flight Soars, as a means of transportation. From our initial conversation, Ciara, our mission assistant, was extremely compassionate and helpful. She gathered all necessary information and had our flight secured by the end of the day. We are beyond thankful for Angel Flight Soars. They have truly been a blessing to our family during this journey. Our hearts are filled with gratefulness and hope; because of Angel Flight Soars, we now have an opportunity to find the answers we seek.
August 17, I got my call for my transplant. Angel flight intercepted me and flew me straight to D.C.. great timing. Great people. Great pilots. My surgery went well. Am from Augusta Georgia, and staying in dc until released by surgeons. Hopefully will be a few more weeks. Thanks to angel flights kindness and generosity.
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Angel Flight Soars has been such an amazing help to us. My son is awaiting a liver transplant and trying to arrange transportation from NC to Pittsburgh when we "get the call" was really stressful for us. Angel Flights has made this process so much easier. We did get a call a few weeks ago that an organ was available and our pilot was so professional and caring. We felt safe and secure the entire trip. Unfortunately that surgery was cancelled and we are still on the waiting list, but knowing that this group of people are here to support us gives us peace of mind.
Words can not express the graditute I have for Angel Flight. I was diagnosed with 2 primary
Cancers Lung & breast, in April 2015' I had surgery in Aug 2015 for the lung. In Virginia, where I live. I decided in Oct. 2015 to go to Cancer Treatment Center in Georgia for the breast and follow up since My daughter lives in GeorgiA. If it was not for the dedicated staff and pilots I could not have ac hieved this. I would have a 10 hour drive vs 4 hour flight.
Everyone is real nice and helpful. Some of the pilots are also cancer survivors or have family members that are survivors. They want to give back by helping others like me. Thank you
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Often times the best medical care for life threatening situations will not be close to those in need. As such driving is not feasible and air transport is essential. That is where Angel Flight Soars helps with our son who had experienced 75+%, 3rd degree burns in a car fire and needed extensive follo-up treatment at what is possibly the nation's best burn center in Augusta.
My son Adam was diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis prior to his first birthday. Today, he is 16 years old. Neurofibromatosis has caused disabling and debilitating tumors to grow on Adam’s, retina, spine and all over his long arm and leg bones. Adam has endured multiple surgeries, broken bones, vision loss, hearing loss, developmental delays, decreased respiratory function, severe scoliosis, and is unable to eat without difficulty.
In January of 2015, a large cervicothoracic plexiform neurofibroma tumor was discovered on Adam’s cervical spine. The tumor made it difficult for Adam to breathe easily, jeopardized his coronary vessels, and caused a severe spinal deformity. Doctors in home city Charlotte, NC referred Adam to a surgeon in Baltimore, MD experienced in spinal deformities. Without surgery Adam would have continued to deteriorate. It would have been very difficult for our family to provide transportation to Baltimore. It would have also been very difficult for Adam to travel 9 hours via car. Angel Flight made it possible for Adam to receive the miracle surgery he needed to save his life.
The Angel Flight staff and volunteer pilots were a true blessing to our family. We will forever be grateful to them for giving Adam the gift of Angel Flight transportation, and the ability to improve his quality of life.
We've used Angel Flight several times now, and are always very grateful for the help they provide to our family. We have two children with medical issues in our home, and both are treated out of state. This can create a lot of stress for our family. Angel Flight is always willing to help relieve that strain and keep us focused on our children's care. Thank you Angel Flight for all you do!
Angel Flight Soars has never said no to providing needed transportation to scheduled appointments. I have had last minute changes and they have always accommodated me. Out of every organization that helps wounded warriors, this one is at the top, and I have dealt with many. Thank you!!!'
Angel Flight is the most amazing organization I have ever seen. I have IPF and I’m on the lung transplant list and Angel Flight has made all the difference to me and my family. This disease can get you down at times and you can feel all alone even with family members are pulling for you. And then along comes an organization like Angel Flight and they help you with the burden of transportation by flying you to and from your doctor appointments. Not only do they help find flights to help with transportation but there are others who offer to drive you from the hospital to the airport. All these people volunteer their services free of charge. And I don’t want to forget the ladies who work for Angel Flight. They are truly professionals in their field. They not only find you transportation but they meet you at the airport and make you feel like a rock star. I will never able to thank them enough for what they do for me. I thank everyone associated with this group. You have changed my life. I love you guys.
