Thomas’ Thank You to Alaska Airlines August 8, 2024 Thank you to our partner, Alaska Airlines, for helping us support incredible passengers like Thomas. Through this partnership, Thomas has been able to travel annually from his home in Anchorage to Denver for essential follow-up care for 20 years. For more than 20 years, Alaska Airlines has partnered with AFW to help people in Alaska access treatment in the Lower 48. Their ongoing help, both through donated tickets… afw_web_admin Read More »
Passenger Spotlight: Nubia’s Journey With Angel Flight West July 23, 2024 Cancer doesn’t just affect your body — it touches every aspect of a patient’s life. Nubia knows that experience well, sharing both the challenges and encouragement she’s come across during her healthcare journey. After battling metastatic breast cancer for nearly six years, Nubia says she feels “immense gratitude” for each new day she’s been given. Her battle hasn’t been easy, but she’s glad to have found a networ… Manal Chaali Read More »
When Cancer Care is States Away: Meet Frank July 3, 2024 Denise and Frank were college sweethearts. They met while attending school in Costa Mesa, Calif., enjoying their lives as young musicians. Today, celebrating 45 years of marriage, the couple lives in Meridian, Idaho, only a few houses away from their adored children and grandchildren. And just as talented in the world of musical theatre as he was decades ago, Frank knew something was off when he felt his lips weaken… Jessica Hayes Read More »
Shine’s First Camp Adventure: Flights for Burn Survivors July 2, 2024 Like most toddlers, Shine was filled with curiosity, eager to discover the world, often reaching up high for things she wanted to see up close. In the blink of an eye, one-year-old Shine reached for a bowl of freshly made hot soup sitting on the kitchen counter, pouring the hot liquid onto her upper chest and right arm. “My husband Patrick rushed Shine into the bathroom, and I remember saying ‘cold water, cold water,’’ s… Jessica Hayes Read More »
Remybelle Flies with Angels: Attending the National Organization for Rare Disorders Forum July 2, 2024 Earlier this month, AFW’s volunteer pilots Mariya Anderson and Sanjay Saigal flew AFW’s passenger Remybelle and her mother Belinda to the The 2024 NORD® Living Rare, Living Stronger® Patient and Family Forum in Los Angeles, Calif. NORD stands for the National Organization for Rare Disorders, and gives people affected by rare diseases an opportunity to discover resources and compassionate support. Jaime Pache… Jessica Hayes Read More »
National Cancer Survivors Day: Meet AFW Passenger Cheryl May 31, 2024 As part of National Cancer Survivors Month, June 2 is National Cancer Survivors Day (NCSD). According to the NCSD Foundation, it’s a day of “celebration for those who have survived, an inspiration for those recently diagnosed, a gathering of support for families, and an outreach to the community.” AFW Volunteer Pilot Phillip Council flies Cheryl and her companion Brian home after Cheryl’s surgery No matte… Jessica Hayes Read More »
Spotlight on an Angel: Meet Two-Year-Old Taylor May 21, 2024 The beginning of 2024 came, and Taylor was an active two-year-old trying her best to keep up with her three older sisters all the while trying to show the world she was the boss, which in some cases, she was! Then out of nowhere, she developed what we now know is called Opsoclonus-Myoclonus-Ataxia syndrome which is a rare neurological disorder affecting only one in 5 million children each year. The first noticeable sym… Jessica Hayes Read More »
Gloria’s Journey: Hope and Healing for Veterans April 29, 2024 Each year, AFW’s volunteer pilots fly dozens of missions to help veterans reach the Guardian Project, an outdoor therapy program organized by the White Heart Foundation where veterans battling post-traumatic stress or trauma can open up and relate to others who have had a similar experience. Your gift ensures veterans can access these crucial services as they strive for healing and recovery. Meet our passenger G… Jessica Hayes Read More »
Finding Friendship and Acceptance at Summer Camp: Meet Zoraya April 25, 2024 Will you make a gift today to help AFW arrange camp missions this summer? While many children are patiently awaiting the thrill of summer camp season, some of AFW’s young passengers are getting a head start on visiting their homes away from home. Fifteen-year-old Zoraya is one of those early travelers. She was excited about returning to Camp Korey in Mount Vernon, Wash. for her fourth year at the year-round camp for ch… Jessica Hayes Read More »
When Medical Care is Miles Away: Meet Cammy April 25, 2024 For people living in rural areas across the West, care can be difficult to access without additional resources and support. From already-costly medical bills to the burden of travel, crucial treatment can seem like a far-off reality. AFW’s passenger Cammy knows that experience well. Five years ago, Cammy’s medical team found a tumor in her brain, an overwhelming diagnosis that has also impacted her abil… Jessica Hayes Read More »
AFW’s New Partnership with The Service Dog Connection March 29, 2024 In addition to flying passengers to their far-off medical care, Angel Flight West provides services for other compelling needs, including flights for our furry, four-legged friends. One of those newest partnerships took off last week with the The Service Dog Connection in Bend, OR, an organization that places trained service dogs with families to support individuals with disabilities. “We had our first missio… Jessica Hayes Read More »
From Angel Flights to Recovery: Meet Elijah March 1, 2024 Elijah was diagnosed with a bone marrow disorder called Fanconi Anemia at just nine years old. “We didn’t know at the time how much his life would change,” says Elijah’s mom Janeth. “But reality set in at our first doctor’s appointment after his diagnosis.” Janeth is a single parent, and she and Elijah live eight hours away from Stanford Medicine Children’s Health where Elijah would need to go for a bone marrow transpl… Jessica Hayes Read More »
Volunteer Pilots Remember AFW Passenger Elliot January 19, 2024 Angel Flight West was built on relationships, and that foundation is what has kept our passengers at the heart of our mission for more than forty years. When our volunteer pilots sign up to donate a flight, they aren’t only signing up to experience the joy of flying — they’re signing up to invest their time and energy in another person, a new friend. Our passenger Elliot was one of those friends, both to volu… Jessica Hayes Read More »
LaMonte’s Battle with Leukemia December 28, 2023 Last year, before his second birthday, LaMonte was diagnosed with childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The family lives in Billings, Mont., but the devastating diagnosis meant his family had to spend nearly 11 months in Colorado for LaMonte’s treatment. “Because it’s such a rare form of leukemia, he’s required more treatment than other patients,” says LaMonte’s mother MaKenna. Now, while the family i… Jessica Hayes Read More »
Meet Colter: Agent of Chaos December 28, 2023 Those who know him best describe two-year-old Colter as a mischievous and hilarious, “agent of chaos”. He is the youngest of three boys, but his older brothers still wait on him hand and foot. Despite his childhood cancer diagnosis, he’s full of life and energy. Colter was diagnosed with a rare form of liver cancer called hepatoblastoma at just 18 months old. Shortly after, the family was referred to a specialist in Se… afw_web_admin Read More »
