From Bubble Boy to Social Butterfly: Meet One-Year-Old Dean December 19, 2024 One-year-old Dean was born last September, a happy and seemingly healthy baby. So, when Razan and her husband Hisham received a call from the hospital after returning home, the news was unexpected — and overwhelming. Dean underwent a routine screening for Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID), a rare genetic disorder, and the results confirmed a diagnosis of Artemis deficiency, an even rarer form that occurs… Jessica Theis Read More »
Protected: 5th Annual Flights of Joy December 19, 2024 Angel Flight West’s volunteer pilots deliver gifts to patients and their families during the 5th Annual Flights of Joy program. Jessica Hayes Read More »
Utah Santa Flight at Vernal Airport December 18, 2024 A message from Utah Wing Leader Lou Rossi Our Utah Wing Volunteers really stepped up this year for our annual Santa Flight! We had 24 Airplanes and one helicopter delivering donated clothing, books, supplies and, of course, Santa and Mrs. Claus and their elves to the students of Ashley Elementary School, who were assembled inside the Classic Aviation Hangar at Vernal Airport. Not only that, but the school identifie… Jessica Hayes Read More »
Intern Reflection: Meet Jessica December 12, 2024 My name is Jessica Theis, and I have been working at Angel Flight West (AFW) as the Communications and Marketing Intern during the Fall 2024 semester. With a background in communications and video production, particularly in social media and promotional video creation, I was eager to apply my skills to the nonprofit sector and expand my expertise in digital storytelling. This opportunity represented a meaningfu… Jessica Hayes Read More »
2025 Flights of Joy December 1, 2024 Flights of Joy – Angel Flight West’s Adopt a Family Program: Volunteer pilots deliver gifts to Angel Flight West passengers across the Western United States. DATE: Flights generally take place between December 1 – 23 Story: Angel Flight West’s volunteer pilots are transforming their planes into sleighs, bringing holiday joy to families struggling with medical o… Jessica Hayes Read More »
2025 Utah Santa Flight December 1, 2024 Santa Flies to Vernal Utah, Wednesday, December 11, 2024 What: Angel Flight West pilots bring Christmas to 500 kids in Vernal On December 11 at 8:30 a.m., 25 volunteer pilots from Angel Flight West’s (AFW) Utah wing will depart from various UT airports on their annual Santa Flight. Their destination is the airport in Vernal, UT, where they will deliver donated toys, school supplies, books, backpacks, and cl… Jessica Hayes Read More »
Rick’s Legacy: Why His Family Gives November 22, 2024 From 2014 to 2017, our passenger Rick and his wife Linda flew with Angel Flight West to access Rick’s experimental treatment for brain cancer at University of California San Francisco (UCSF), almost nine hours away by car from the couple’s Eugene home. Rick passed away in August 2017, leaving behind a legacy of love. Upon his diagnosis, Rick was only expected to live for 14 months, but his expert medical team ex… Jessica Hayes Read More »
Paul’s Fight with Pancreatic Cancer November 12, 2024 For Paul, living in the small, tranquil community of Eastsound, Washington on Orcas Island with his wife Mollie and dog brings him an unparalleled sense of peace. “It’s one of the most beautiful places on the West Coast,” he says. “We can see the boats down below and all of the other islands.” And while it’s the perfect place to heal and rest, it’s also an exhausting three-and-a-half hours away from Paul’s pancreatic ca… Jessica Hayes Read More »
November Safety Update: Ground Operations November 5, 2024 Ground Operations In this article we actually won’t get airborne at all. We will discuss Threats, Errors and their mitigation, while we are still on the ground. Specifically, we will cover procedures and processes from prior to engine start, up to our decision-making process during a rejected takeoff while rolling down the runway. If you already have techniques that work for you, that you feel are true, tested and h… Safety Officers Read More »
New Board Member: Meet Mary Noli Pilkington November 5, 2024 We’re thrilled to introduce AFW’s newest board member, Mary Noli Pilkington! Mary is the Senior Director of The Department of Care Coordination and Clinical Social Work at UCLA Health: Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center; UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital; UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center, UCLA West Valley Medical Director, Transplant Services, and pediatric ambulatory care. As Senior Director, Mary provides d… Jessica Hayes Read More »
A Reason to Fly: Spotlight on AFW Volunteer Pilot Joshua Pava October 16, 2024 Joshua Pava has always been fascinated by aviation. As a youngster, he used to do his homework at the local airport, watching planes as they took off and landed. “I always wanted to be a pilot when I grew up, though I’m not sure I’ve grown up yet,” he jokes. Just starting out in his career, Josh worked in tech doing software development. “My past paid for my flight lessons,” he says. “I got my private, instrument, and commer… Jessica Hayes Read More »
The Big L Love: From AFW’s Passenger Jonathan October 16, 2024 In September 2024, AFW’s passenger Jonathan shared his testimonial at AFW’s 2024 Golf Classic. My name is Jonathan and I’m honored to be here to share my story with you. It was 2012, and I was in my late 30s—healthy, fit, and feeling invincible. After serving as a flight attendant with American Airlines for almost 10 years, a job that took me to 53 countries, I started my own event planning company. O… Jessica Hayes Read More »
From a Hospice Social Worker: Larry’s Flight with JSX September 24, 2024 Joni Jackson, a Hospice Social Worker at Elevation Hospice of Colorado, shares her experience with Angel Flight West and her memorable flight with patient Larry: I am a hospice social worker and started caring for Larry in August 2023. He had suffered a stroke and had physical and cognitive impairments as a result. His wife had been struggling with her own health and could not care for Larry at home. He moved into a skil… Jessica Hayes Read More »
Meet Amelia — Frontier/Rural Patient Navigator at Huntsman Cancer Institute September 6, 2024 Meet our healthcare partner, Amelia. As a part of Huntsman Cancer Institute, she and fellow navigators help connect patients with AFW’s donated flight services. Having grown up in a rural area, Amelia knows the challenges patients face when needing to receive far-off care. We’re grateful to work with compassionate healthcare requesters like Amelia to help more patients on the runway to recovery. 1… Jessica Hayes Read More »
A Heart for Helping: Meet AFW Volunteer Pilot Joseph Zammit August 28, 2024 Growing up on a farm in Michigan, the Earth beneath his feet was more familiar to Joseph Zammit than the sky. But even as a kid, Joseph found himself looking up toward the blue, dreaming of one day becoming a pilot or astronaut. “I always wanted to fly,” he says. Twenty years ago, Joseph achieved his goal, earning his private pilot license. But it wasn’t only about flying, it was about becoming a better, safer pilot, capab… Jessica Hayes Read More »
