Meet AFW Passenger Gabe December 3, 2025 AFW passenger Gabe has been flying with AFW since early 2024 to reach his essential care at Children’s Hospital LA. Gabe’s mother, Jadie, shares: “Our son Gabe is 15 years old. He suffered two strokes and a brain bleed after catching a virus and being intubated for four months. He was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and epilepsy as a result of this tragic event. “We moved to Arizona when Gabe wa… Jessica Hayes Read More »
How Advanced Air and Volunteer Pilots Made Dylan’s Journey Possible October 31, 2025 Dylan was only nine years old when he complained of having a migraine and numbness in his legs. Knowing migraines are unusual for Dylan, his mom Vanessa took him to the emergency room, where their scary medical journey began. “That was the beginning of ten hours at the ER, watching Dylan in and out of consciousness,” says Vanessa. After hours of tests and blood work, a pediatrician quickly attuned to Dylan’s sym… Jessica Hayes Read More »
Celebrating 700 Missions: Command Pilot Chris Bennett October 1, 2025 Chris Bennett joined Angel Flight West on February 6, 2014, completing his orientation just three days later and flying his very first mission on February 14. Since then, he has completed an extraordinary 705 missions, flying a Diamond Star 40 out of San Jose (SJC). One of his deepest connections has been with Eileen, who has flown with Chris 323 times. Eileen lovingly calls herself the president of the “Chris… Jessica Hayes Read More »
Dogs for Better Lives Names Puppy-in-Training “Jet” in Honor of Angel Flight West Volunteer Pilots July 30, 2025 CENTRAL POINT, OR July 28, 2025— A groundbreaking partnership between Dogs for Better Lives (DBL) and Angel Flight West is streamlining the journey for puppies and future Service Dogs, bringing efficiency and compassion to every step of their path toward service. This collaboration ensures that transportation is not just practical but also safe and timely, allowing DBL to focus more resources on trainin… Jessica Hayes Read More »
Meet Kaprice: Flying to Camp Since 2021 July 9, 2025 In 2016, then nine-year-old Kaprice was playing outside with his two brothers when he was hit by a speeding car. “He was dragged down the street,” Kaprice’s mother Krista tearfully remembers. Suffering severe burns from road rash and other critical injuries, Kaprice was on life support for a week and spent three months in the hospital. “The first thing the doctor said, recalls Krista, was, ‘Kaprice is a miracle.’… Jessica Hayes Read More »
Meet Asher: A Life Lifted By Angels May 28, 2025 Weighing only 1 lb. 14 oz, Asher was born prematurely at 25 weeks. He spent 164 days in the neonatal intensive care unit and had to have a tracheotomy at just three months old. At four months, Asher had a button—a feeding device—placed in his stomach. And at 22 months, he underwent heart surgery. Now 11 years old, Asher has spent more than 640 days in the hospital. “Over 11 years and four different states, it’s been a… Jessica Hayes Read More »
Wonderful Angels May 28, 2025 To the Wonderful Angels of Angel Flight WestA Letter from Charlene, mother of AFW passenger Asher Words seem inadequate to express the profound gratitude I feel for the incredible service you provide. My son Asher was born at 25 weeks weighing 1 lb 14 oz, and to date has spent over 640 days in and out of the hospital. Over 11 years and 3 different states, it’s been a long, difficult journey we navigate daily and will contin… Jessica Hayes Read More »
From Burn Survivor to Camp Leader: Alyssa’s Story May 27, 2025 On a hot summer day in 2016, then 10-year-old Alyssa was preparing to celebrate the Fourth of July. Alyssa loved to bake and being experienced in the kitchen; she decided to make treats for a family gathering on her own. After boiling water and sugar to make simple syrup, she went to put the mixture in the fridge — and that’s when her life changed in the blink of an eye. The pot tilted and its boiling contents splashed… Lucy Partington Read More »
Flights of Hope: Meet AFW Passenger Mark April 14, 2025 Mark was living in Orange County, Calif., helping run art galleries and operating a business as a benefit auctioneer. In 2021, his career came to a halt when Mark moved to Reno to become a full-time caregiver for his 92-year-old father. Less than two years later, Mark received a devastating diagnosis of stage 4 soft tissue sarcoma, a rare cancer in the body’s soft tissues. His battle began in May 2023. For years, Mark ha… Gloriann Figueroa Read More »
A Letter to Supporters of the Dr. Randy Sherman Access for All Fund March 17, 2025 When weather or location keeps our volunteer pilots from flying, or when someone needs help with ground transportation between airports and medical facilities, our Dr. Randy Sherman Access for All Fund allows AFW to purchase airline tickets, bus tickets, and even rideshare services to make travel possible for people in need. Our passenger Tia recently shared an open letter to supporters of the Dr. Randy Sh… Gloriann Figueroa Read More »
AFW Passenger Julie: Living with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome March 12, 2025 Even as a child, Julie always felt weak. She walked late, didn’t learn to ride a bike, and eventually had to undergo five foot surgeries. But it wasn’t until 18 months ago that she received an answer: a diagnosis of Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, an incurable genetic condition that affects the joints, muscles, and other physical functions. In her search for the best treatment, Julie found a doct… Jessica Hayes Read More »
A Lifeline in the Skies for Our Passenger Evalyn December 19, 2024 For Susie, a mother from a small town without traffic lights, Angel Flight West has become a lifeline. Her daughter Evalyn was born with numerous medical challenges, including non-verbal autism, a cleft foot , and a condition that required a feeding tube, and she needs regular trips to Seattle Children’s Hospital. Recently, Evalyn was also diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, which has added more complexity to her car… Jessica Theis Read More »
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 Hayes Read More »
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 »
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 »
