as we embarked on our journey to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, one of the questions that was top on our list was how we would get there. it’s about a 10 hour drive and while we would have made that trip, we were blessed beyond measure to find out about lifeline pilots.
** this is not a sponsored post…lifeline has zero idea who i am but i truly feel blessed to be able to have accessed such an incredible organization.
my stepdad is a pilot and he + my mom have graciously provided multiple flights through lifeline pilots…. from babies to 3 year olds to mothers and elderly. i’ve always been amazed at the generosity of their time + resources as well as trying to imagine what a blessing this must be for someone who needs the medical attention….but i never thought that would be me. here we are, trying to figure out if we can make it to Mayo Clinic to access the best doctors in the world for my seemingly insanely complex case and lifeline pilots became our best option, our only option really.
lifeline pilots
their mission is to facilitate free air transportation through volunteer pilots for financially stressed passengers with medical and humanitarian needs. this is truly an incredible organization that in the midst of medical costs and financial burden, takes the additional stress of transportation off the table.
some fun facts about lifeline pilots:
– all flights are completely FREE to the passenger, family and travel companions.
– any passenger is welcome…from babies to senior citizens
– patients are served nationwide through the partnership with other air charities and airlines.
– there is no limit to the number of times a passenger can utilize the flights provided
– all flights are flown in a private aircraft by volunteer pilots
– pilots donate 100% of the flight expense which includes their time, talent, airplane, fuel and operating expenses.
– over 8,000 missions have been scheduled with over 450 volunteer pilots
– the primary service area covers 10 states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Tennessee and Wisconsin.
how it works
if you’re wishing to look into utilizing lifeline pilots, simply check out their website or request a flight. the process is easy and everyone is beyond friendly. you’ll need to fill out a handful of questionnaires and they’re able to walk you through the whole process. a pilot is able to volunteer their time + resources simply by filling out the volunteer pilot application and following their guidelines and qualifications.
the day of travel
the day of travel, we met my stepmom at the airport to get our youngest two babes set up to stay with ‘grandma and grandpa’…but of course not before we checked out the planes and airport! so we checked out the plane and then kissed our babies goodbye so they could have the best time with their grandparents! masks are required on the flights at this point with COVID-19 and there is a careful screening guide during this time to ensure everyone’s safety. the bags were loaded and then we buckled up for an incredibly smooth flight! for us it was about 1.5 hours of amazing views and great company!
this journey hasn’t been easy but we are truly beyond thankful for such a huge blessing with lifeline pilots…and most specifically to my stepdad + mom for being so incredibly gracious with their time + resources, and to my dad + stepmom as well as Zach’s parents for taking care of our greatest treasures, our babies. it has taken a village in the last 6 months and we are eternally grateful for family who has made this all possible.
