Flying like an angel

By Marqua Brunette, Director of Choirs
Holy Nativity, Panama City

“To do such good works as he would have you to do…”

A small group of dedicated pilots take seriously the exhortation from the post Communion prayer to go forth to love and serve others.  Every day somewhere across America, a pilot takes to the sky to transport patients and their families needing specialized medical care not otherwise available within their own communities.   Providing their own airplanes and all the costs associated with the flight, these skilled pilots give patients and their families the opportunity to get the treatment that their very lives require.

Here in our Diocese, Mary K. Sittman, a member of Holy Nativity Episcopal Church in Panama City dons her “angel” wings at least twice monthly.  While she believes she received a special call to this mission, she admits to a selfish motivation:  “Angel Flights give me an excuse to fly.”  After a 40 year hiatus from flight, she looks for reasons to fly.  Her “missions” take her to Birmingham, New Orleans, Jacksonville, Gainesville and Atlanta.    She is currently transporting a mother with two young children.  Time with her family is a precious healing commodity that would be lost in long monthly drives to and from a treatment center.  Another young father needs treatment Monday through Friday in Birmingham.  Because of Angel Flight he can be home three nights a week.

One recent passenger said that their time “aloft” somehow makes them feel just a little bit closer to God.  Maybe it’s the quiet time in the clouds or maybe it’s just the aura of love that all of these pilots seem to exude when they are combining their love of flight with their love of people.  Whatever the formula, everyone involved seems to get special healing.

Steve Retherford, a passenger on Mary’s list is a Sheriff’s Deputy who has multiple brain and lung tumors (melanoma). “They have a daughter that is 13 and a son that is 9. I’m sure that the time they can spend with their kids is as important as the time they spend in treatment at UAB!” Anyone who has been through treatment knows only too well how exhausting a six hour car trip twice a week would be. “One of the videos I saw said that Angel Flights give patients more of that delicate commodity called, ‘time.’”

To learn more about Steve you can go to the Facebook page set up for him, “Pray for Steve Retherford.” There have been several local fundraisers for this family as he continues his journey with cancer and his Angel Flights to Birmingham with his personal pilot, Mary Sittman.

Currently operating out of the General Aviation facilities provided at Precision Avjet, the flights will be moving to Sheltair at the new airport sometime in mid-June.   The location of the new airport with its proximity to Walton County should help make this service available to more people needing special transportation services.

The Earth Angels at Angel Flight Southeast, based out of Leesburg, FL, match pilots to patients, coordinating all transportation services with the health care providers.
To be eligible for services, patients must be ambulatory and able to get into and out of a small airplane.  Generally they must be unable to get commercial airline service from their home town to their treatment center.   There are times, however, when patients with compromised immune systems should not be exposed to the general traveling public. In such cases, Angel Flight pilots will fly to major medical centers serviced by an established air carrier for the patient’s well-being.

While the pilots cover all the costs of flight, coordinating the team of volunteers requires dedicated staff.  If you want to help offset the costs that are not covered by volunteers, you are encouraged to send your tax deductible donations to Mercy Flight Southeast, 8864 Airport Boulevard, Leesburg, FL 34788.  For more information you can call 1-888-744-8263 or visit their website at:  http://www.mercyflightse.org

Holy Nativity is proud of their flying ‘angel’ sending her forth with heart-felt prayers for her travels and the healing of those she carries. Perhaps the Rev. Steve Bates, rector of Holy Nativity, Panama City, put it best…“I never cease to be amazed at Mary’s generosity, achievement and sense of adventure. She recently won two international awards during the centennial celebration of Women Pilots. In June, she will participate in TeamUP, which is an air race made famous by Amelia Earhart. Her goal is to raise money to build a flight exhibit at our local Junior Museum. Yet, what I appreciate most about Mary is her sense of ministry. She has been a long time supporter of our parish, of Holy Nativity School and is continuously using her time, talents, and resources to reach out to others. Whether the cause is Angel Flight, assisting friends in need and in crisis, allowing family members to visit with military family members or even “delivering” excited grandmothers to see newborn grandchildren, Mary is a wonderful example of discipleship in so many ways that reach beyond what is and embraces what can be.

And did I mention . . . she also gave up chocolate for Lent. Believe me. There’s a story there.”