Medical Flights
AFE assists patients traveling between 100 and 1,000 miles for non-emergency medical treatment. This allows patients to "commute"
to and from their treatments instead of worrying about long-term accommodations for the duration of their recovery.
Patients who might request our assistance include rural patients with limited access to specialized care, follow-up care for organ transplantation, among others.
If you're unsure whether we can help with your needs, please reach out!
Compassion Flights
AFE also considers compassion flights for non-medical situations on a case-by-case basis. If you need to visit a loved-one in recovery, need help leaving a disaster or evacuation area, or require transportation for some other critical situation, we may be able to help.
Who's eligible?
Passengers who are medically stable, ambulatory, and able to sit upright for the duration of the flight are eligible for our services.
Gabe's Story
Cumberland, Maryland seems like a perfect get-away spot—it has a vibrant arts scene, miles of hiking trails, and plenty of interesting breweries and dining options. What it does not have is a place for 4-year-old Gabriel to be treated for short bowel syndrome.
Cumberland is what we call a ‘healthcare desert,” a rural community with otherwise great quality of life but inadequate healthcare for patients with specialized or rare conditions. With no adequate alternative in the area, Gabriel had to travel more than eight hours away to Boston Children’s Hospital for his treatments. That's when Angel Flight East stepped in to help.
Gabriel's first flight was on December 18, 2019, and to date, we have scheduled more than 20 flights in order for him to receive his lifesaving medical care.
“We could never thank Angel Flight East enough for getting Gabe and me to his appointments at Boston Children's Hospital and back home to Cumberland, MD. One less thing we have to worry about with our plates so full.” - Miranda, Gabriel’s mother
Just like with all our patients, Angel Flight East will continue to fly Gabriel for as long as he needs; and thanks to the generosity of our volunteer pilots, his family will never have to pay for air transportation.
Matt's Story
Marfan Syndrome is a rare inherited disorder that affects connective tissue, occurring in about 1 in 5,000 people. Of the roughly 7,000 people in Delphos, Ohio, Angel Flight East is helping that one. Meet Matt H, one of the 1 in 10 Marfan patients with a high risk of death due to cardiac influence.
With an early diagnosis, Matt was able to keep his primary care at the Cleveland Clinic, three hours away from home and the closest non-pediatric providers. However, Matt’s condition eventually caused aneurysms in his aorta and elsewhere. The Cleveland Clinic now referred Matt to New York University Langone Medical Center, tripling his travel time into a 10 hour road-trip. Luckily, Matt’s mom had an idea: Angel Flight East
Matt’s care team in Cleveland completed a few forms, and the next thing he knew, that 10+ hour drive turned into a 3 hour flight. The best part? Instead of driving 2 hours to the nearest major airport, Matt could be picked up a mere 15 minutes outside of his small town.
The stress of deciding between a germ-riddled airport or an overnight road-trip melted away. Matt and his wife got to his specialist in New York with the ability to exhale.
Matt sadly passed away on Wednesday October 11 in New York. Angel Flight East is now working with the family to find a resource to transport Matt's remains back home to Ohio.
Takeoff Talk
Learn More about our passengers' amazing journeys on our podcast, Takeoff Talk!
In this episode of Take Off Talk, frequent flyer Beth shares her journey with Angel Flight East, a nonprofit organization providing free air transportation for medical treatment. Beth discusses her genetic condition, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and the challenges of traveling to Boston for specialized care. She highlights the invaluable support and community she has found through Angel Flight, emphasizing the organization's role in her medical journey and the importance of their services for patients in need.
In this episode of Takeoff Talk, Jess welcomes Jamie from Luke's Wings, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing complimentary flights to wounded service members, veterans, first responders, and their families during recovery. Jamie shares heartwarming success stories, including reuniting a service member with his family after 18 months and assisting a veteran with cancer treatments. The discussion highlights the importance of partnerships and community support in expanding their mission to help as many families as possible.
In this episode of Take Off Talk, Jess interviews Tina from Kelsey's Dream, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting children with cancer. Founded in memory of Tina's daughter, Kelsey, the organization provides a play therapy toy called Hopper, the Cancer Crusher, to hospitals across the U.S. to help young patients understand their treatment. Tina shares heartwarming stories of how Hopper has become a comforting companion for many children, and discusses ways listeners can support Kelsey's Dream in its mission to bring hope and healing to families affected by cancer.
