 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Wings For
Sick Kids
Watch This Video
| Windows Media |
  |
| QuickTime | |
| MPEG |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|||
|
Having two children who are seriously ill, and a doctor hundreds of miles away, could cause hardships for any family. But some “angels” are making life much easier for one Texas family, and many others. |
|||
 |
|||
 |
New Items | Additional Stories | UMTV Brief | Archives | ||
SCRIPT:
The Hiebert family has traveled thousands of miles to get medical treatment for 4-year-old Brett and his twin sister Brooke. They were born with a rare immune system disorder.
Kathy Hiebert / Mother: “It’s basically a disease where the white cells don’t work properly.”
It’s been a family affair. Brett and Brooke’s older sister and younger brother donated bone marrow for transplants to the twins.
A three-and-a-half hour car trip is hard because that makes a seven-hour day without even factoring in the doctor’s appointment.
Brett Hiebert / 4 Years Old: “I like my doctors and the pilots.”
United Methodist Kirk Bell is making this journey a little easier. He donates his time and skills to help kids like Brett and Brooke.
Kirk Bell / Angel Flight Pilot: “It’s just a sense of fulfillment.”
The Dallas stockbroker and former air force flight instructor is president of Angel Flight South Central, volunteer pilots who fly children and adults without charge to medical appointments.
Kirk Bell / Angel Flight Pilot: “They’re going through a challenging time, invariably, in their lives. And all you’re doing is making the transportation obstacle, you know, a little less burdensome for them.”
Bell and his fellow pilots have made 10,000 flights connecting patients to the best care available. Ground angels complete the trips to doctors’ offices and hospitals.
With the help from these angels, the outlook is good for Brett and his sister.
Doctor’s say Brett’s recovery will take another year, and Angel Flight will be there.
Kathy Hiebert: “I would say that Angel Flight has been a godsend for us. As I’m sure it is, for many of the other people that they help. And it’s just been a wonderful thing for us.”
TAG:
Angel Flight pilots spend an average of $200 an hour flying their planes. Donations cover other costs of running the organization. And Angel Flight is always looking for more pilots to volunteer their time. There are Angel Flight chapters covering all parts of the country.
Angel Flight South Central:
http://www.angelflightsc.org/
Angel Flight America:
http://www.angelflightamerica.org/