In December 2018, these 2 extraordinary employees helped renew the spirit of a cancer patient. The patient's son stated that their kindness helped bring their dad's "spark and laughter back" to his life since the cancer diagnosis. While a patient on 8A, he mentioned repeatedly to staff that it would be at the top of his bucket list to meet the crew of Survival Flight. You see, he had been watching through his 8A room window, the Survival Flight helicopters fly in and out of the university since he was admitted. The patient had always wanted to be a pilot and was intrigued every time he saw the helicopters, even managing to get out of his hospital bed to see them fly by his window, waving to them as they took off. One night he talked all night to the 8A staff and doctors about the helicopters and how cool it was that it looked like they could see him waving to them as they lifted off. After hearing this story in the morning, his day shift nurses contacted Survival Flight to arrange a surprise visit for him. By noon, Lori was at his bedside and had her arms full of gifts for him. Lori promised the patient that she would bring her friends to visit with him the next day. The gesture made him very emotional. The very next day Lori returned with SF RN Jeff Thomas and several other members of the crew. In the days to follow, the Flight Team came to visit and the patient even got a personal tour of the chopper and heli-pad. From that time on, with the help of the 8A nurses, he waved to the helicopters from his room. His family videotaped their dad waving, so on the days when their dad felt blue, they could pull up the memories, made possible by our Survival Flight Team and 8A staff.
Eventually, he was discharged home, and his daughter invited Lori and Jeff to her house to meet the family, and to see the patient again. He was so surprised to see them, and not only did he cry, Lori and Jeff did too. He just couldn't believe how he was that important to the Survival Flight Nurses, that they would take time out of their day to visit with him, as he didn't think he was "that special". Lori and Jeff spent 2 hours on that day with him and the family and made sure he knew how special he was; but most importantly how brave he was, and how honored they felt to be a part of his final moments in life. Lori and Jeff remain in contact with the family, giving them support as they grieve the loss of dad.