Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – Festive wrapping paper lay crumpled on the carpet of the General Aviation lobby at the Presque Isle Airport as the kids admired their new toys.
Staff photo/Meridith Paterson
BECKY LAVWAY holds the gifts flown to her and her brother by Santa’s Helpers from Hasbro and Angel Flights Northeast.
Santa made an early stop this year to five Aroostook children via his helpers at Angel Flight Northeast and Hasbro, Inc. last Wednesday. Brook and Ryan Lavway, Noah and Nathaniel Johndro and Zoey Woodard received an armload of packages from the Hasbro and Angel Flight pilots clad in the famous red hat.
Angel Flight Northeast, an organization that offers free transportation to patients and their families under medical financial burdens, and Hasbro teamed up to give some extra Christmas joy with the “Hasbro Helping Wings” program. A 3-year $75,000 grant from the Hasbro Children’s Fund allowed volunteers to bring toys to the patients or children of patients involved in the Angel Flight program.
Angel Flight pilot Melissa Norton arrived with four Hasbro volunteers from Rhode Island to deliver Santa’s presents to 13-year-old Brook and 10-year-old Ryan, the children of Lynnelle and Terry Lavway.
Terry Lavway has taken advantage of the Angel Flight opportunity six times to fly to hospitals in Boston.
“There’s no way we could do it without them,” said Lavway.
Nine-year veteran volunteer Norton makes 20 to 30 Angel flights a year including several trips to Presque Isle. “The first thing it does is you’re paying a back a little bit and the selfish thing is you get to fly,” laughed Norton about why she makes the flights. “At Christmastime it’s always special to do something nice for the kids.”
Norton has flown the Lavways for a couple of the hour-and-a-half transits to and from Boston. “She is so funny, and she’s a really good pilot,” commented Lynnelle Lavway.
The second plane, piloted by Brunswick-native David Schall, arrived with three sacks filled with toys for 5-year-old Noah, his twin brother Nathaniel and their 3-year-old half-sister Zoey. The children stood awestruck as Schall stacked their gifts almost to identical heights.
Noah has chronic lung disease and failure to thrive among a list of other ailments that require special medical attention at the Boston’s Children’s Hospital.
“It means a lot to the kids,” said grandmother Sherry Erikson. “Noah asked me why Santa is in a plane and not in a sleigh. I told him that the reindeer would get really tired, and they need to rest for the big night.”
Erikson and husband Rick Martinez live in Fort Fairfield where they raise their three grandchildren. The family learned of the program through an acquaintance in Fort Fairfield and has utilized the program for two years and three months. The program provides a vital service for Noah who is supposed to visit Boston at least once every three months.
“We couldn’t do it without them,” said Erikson. “Noah doesn’t travel well.” The fear during the first couple of flights has worn off for Noah who now calls his usual pilot, Jim Platz, Mr. Jim. Angel Flights helps to defray the high medical costs that include normal medical bills and accommodation in Boston. The hotel charges $180 a night at the hospital guest rate.
“Noah’s not on a schedule so it’s hard to keep regular work. We have to be readily available for him so we’re on Maine Care,” explained Erikson. Due to miscommunication between the insurance providers in Maine and medical professionals in Boston, Erickson is currently waiting for approval for Noah’s next visit. The parcels brought a welcome respite from the anxiety and excitement for the siblings to share together. Noah generally travels without his brother and sister to Boston.
The boys received one of their Christmas wishes—a Transformer. Zoey opened up a brand new Baby Alive doll that she claimed had a dirty diaper.
“Every day he asks me ‘could I wrap it off’,” said Erikson about Noah’s anticipation of Christmas morning. Nathaniel added to his wish list in the presence of Santa’s Helpers. He also wanted Pirates of the Caribbean toys and a Power Ranger, but the rest of the presents will wait under the tree until the morning of the 25th.
While the pilots of Angel Flights volunteer their time, planes and fuel for the medical transportation, the organization still accepts donations to fund staffing and other work within the program. Over 800 pilots participate in serving the New England states and New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Additional information is available at www.angelflightne.org.
Staff photo/Meridith Paterson
SANTA’S HELPER, Angel Flight pilot David Schall, allowed Nathaniel Johndro and Zoey Woodard one present each to open a week before Christmas after delivering the gifts provided by a grant from Hasbro Children’s Fund.
