PALS comes through for Logan

RUMFORD -- Angels with wings have come through for Logan Hamner.

Logan, 14, received a new set of lungs on Jan. 3 to replace the ones he was born with. Due to deterioration from leukemia treatments when he was younger, Logan was placed on the transplant list in November of 2011. He has been home since January 30, after spending nearly a month in Boston Children’s Hospital regaining his strength and allowing the donor lungs to adjust to their new host.

However, part of this treatment also involves the family having to travel to Boston weekly for Logan’s checkups. The concern was expressed about the expense of gas.

Enter Patient AirLift Services (PALS). After seeing the Feb. 27 article about Logan in the Rumford Falls Times, an email was received from Anne Hathaway Beaulieu, a Maine volunteer co-pilot for PALS. She said, "We welcome Logan and his mother to fly with us from Auburn Municipal Airport to Boston weekly as needed -- as pilot availability allows."

Logan’s mom, Shannon Scott, said Monday she has made arrangements with a volunteer for PAL's services.

"It's amazing. I've already spoken to the pilot, and he excited. This was a Godsend."

From their website, it says Patient AirLift Services arranges free air transportation based on need to individuals requiring medical care and for other humanitarian purposes. Their network of volunteer pilots provide this service without compensation using their own or rented aircraft. In no case are fees of any kind charged for these services. Generally the individuals who utilize our services have limited financial resources or are receiving diagnosis, treatment or follow-up for various types of acute or chronic illnesses or conditions that make it either financially impossible or otherwise infeasible to use public commercial or private charter transportation.

Patient AirLift Services covers flights in the entire northeast United States as far west as Ohio and as far south as Virginia. Typical flight times in our general aviation aircraft will range from two to three hours per leg, covering 200 to 600 miles. Flights originating or terminating beyond our primary coverage area will be conducted by our member pilots, or will be coordinated with other similar organizations to provide you with a seamless travel itinerary.

Some examples of the types of flights we accept include flights for:

• People with a large number and duration of chemotherapy or other treatments;

• People that must avoid public places and confined spaces because of immuno-deficiencies;

• People that are too weak or fragile to endure the long waits and delays at commercial airports;

• People that are part of the support structure for one that is far away and very ill;

• Wounded Military personnel and their families.

Beaulieu indicated that this service is also available to the community of Rumford. For more, visit their website at http://www.palservices.org/.

You can mail correspondence to encourage Logan, or make donations to Logan Hamner, ℅ Shannon Scott, 227 Knox St., Rumford, ME 04276.