Our son Eli was just two years old when he had his first seizure. Now, at eight, he’s a bright, strong-willed child who continues to live with intractable epilepsy — a condition that remains challenging to manage with medication.
Our family lives in Silt, Colorado, nearly 10 hours from the specialized care Eli receives at Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Traveling that far for appointments was daunting, both physically and financially.Then my brother-in-law, a pilot, told us about Angel Flight West (AFW). After completing AFW’s online application, I got a call from their mission coordinators within 24 hours. I was so relieved to learn that we’d been approved and that we could begin flying right away.
Since that first flight, the volunteer pilots and AFW team have been nothing short of incredible. Because of AFW, we’re able to get Eli to his medical appointments safely and without the stress of long, exhausting drives. The volunteers make us feel cared for, supported, and truly seen — like we’re part of their family.
Eli loves meeting the pilots and looking out the window as we fly above the mountains. Even on the hard days, those flights give him something to look forward to. Thanks to AFW, we’re able to focus on Eli’s health and spend more time together as a family instead of worrying about how we will get to his appointments.
Our family is grateful for the kindness, generosity, and compassion of every AFW volunteer who makes these flights possible. We want others to know that AFW isn’t just providing transportation — they’re giving families hope, comfort, and access to the care their loved ones need.
Please, make a gift today to help Angel Flight West continue providing flights for patients like Eli who need help reaching their treatment and finding hope along the way.
