Heroes of the Heart DVD

Angel Flight Central Song

 

Inspirations

 

Her family needed her in a crisis.

Grandmother Larna Edwards needed to get to Wyoming to assist her son with the care of his family. He and his wife needed to spend their time at the hospital with Larna’s newborn grandson who was experiencing unexplainable seizures and struggling to stay alive. With no other relatives nearby and the special needs of their little girl at home who has epilepsy, they called grandma to help. Grandma, however, had no way to pay for a $900 airline ticket. So, they called Angel Flight Central and our pilots helped her help her family. It turns out the baby has a rare, yet treatable, vitamin deficiency. "Thank you for my flights to and from Wyoming. The baby is better. You all are the greatest. Thanks again."—Larna Edwards

This 4-year-old just wants to breathe easier.

Matthew has polyps growing on his vocal chords blocking his air passageway. It is difficult for him to breathe much less talk. The growths must be removed surgically with a laser. In 21 months he has had 23 of these surgeries. He has already been through a lot for his age, but his doctors are trying to find a cure. Matthew needs to travel regularly for injections in hope this treatment will put him in remission. The drive from his home in Rapid City, SD to his doctor in Denver, CO is uncomfortable and longÂZespecially without a reliable vehicle. So, his social worker started looking for other affordable options. Angel Flight Central now flies him back and forth whenever possible.

Mountains had been on his mind.

His mother said he has been fascinated with mountains throughout his childhood. He used to build snow mountains in their yard, and not long after 10-year-old Michael was diagnosed with a terminal inoperable brain tumor, he told her that a mountain must be the best place to talk to God. Living in the Greater Kansas City area with his parents and six brothers and sisters, Michael had never had an opportunity to see large hills much less a mountain. Over the holidays in 1999 some talented volunteers surprised him by painting a mural of mountains on his bedroom wall. He told his mom the painting was "cool." But he still hadn’t seen a "real" mountain, so after hearing Michael’s story an Angel Flight Central pilot agreed to fly him over the Rockies. The weather turned sour on their first attempt, so the flight was postponed to the next week. On a cold winter morning, Michael boarded the airplane with the assistance of his mother, hospice nurse and pilot. His medical condition had progressed to a level that prohibits him from speaking much, but his eyes said "thank you" as the rocky terrain spread beneath him. Michael saw his mountains.

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