PHYSICIAN SPOTLIGHT
Dr. Richard Gayles is truly an angel. The Merritt Island, Florida physician is part of Angel Flight, a national network of pilots who volunteer their time ferrying patients to treatment locations far from their homes.
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Dr. Richard Gayles is truly an angel. The Merritt Island, Florida physician is part of Angel Flight, a national network of pilots who volunteer their time ferrying patients to treatment locations far from their homes.
For many patients, finding treatment represents only half of the battle they must fight to conquer their illness. Getting to treatment is sometimes the other half. That’s when Angel Flight steps in.
A MODERN DAY PONY EXPRESS: For more than 25 years, Angel Flight has connected FAA certified volunteer pilots with patients with a host of medical issues. Some may be children who need chemotherapy or radiation; others may be headed for clinical trials.
Angel Flight offers transportation to people whose medical problems make it necessary for them to travel for diagnosis or treatment and who lack the financial resources to get there.
Angel Flight will also carry, without regard to financial need, people whose condition or location makes it difficult to use other means of transportation.
“It’s like a modern day Pony Express,” said Gayles.
Gayles has volunteered his time and talent, as well as his own aircraft and the considerable expenses associated with flying his Piper Aztec plane, to fly patients who must receive medical treatment.
One of Angel Flight’s newest pilots, Gayles has already flown patients to Tallahassee, Pensacola and even Louisiana.
For more than 25 years, Angel Flight has connected FAA certified volunteer pilots with patients with a host of medical issues. Some may need chemotherapy or radiation; others may be headed for clinical trials.
“The mission of Angel Flight is most important to those seeking specialty treatment far away from home,” said Blake Mathis, president and CEO for Leesburg-based Angel Flight Southeast, the chapter of the national organization for which Gayles volunteers.
Although it is not a household name, the organization racks up impressive figures. “There’s an Angel Flight almost every 20 minutes,” said Dawn Cope, Angel Flight’s Melbourne wing leader.
“Over 7,200 pilots fly 23,000 missions a year around the country. It’s a bunch of amazing people.”
In the Space Coast alone, Angel Flight can count on 120 pilots eager to help. Some pilots even volunteer to fly at a moment’s notice to whisk away an organ transplant candidate. Timing is particularly critical for these cases, because the window of opportunity for a successful transplant may be very small.
Hearts, for example, may be useless after three hours, so pilots must be ready to rush out the door whenever the call arrives, even if it is in the middle of the night.
The organization also provides relief efforts during man made or natural disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina or the earthquake in Haiti, and relocates victims of domestic violence to safe harbors.
“Volunteer pilots donate their aircraft, their skills and fuel in order to help those in need,” said Mathis.
Pilots With Medical Backgrounds
Single-engine, four or six-seat aircraft are used for the majority of missions. Pilots with medical backgrounds, such as Gayles and fellow physician Dr. Jorge Leal, readily understand the soul of Angel Flight.
“Having pilots with medical background is a plus because they truly understand the urgency to get these passengers to their treatment or appointment with medical professionals at distant facilities,” added Mathis.
Leal, a Merritt Island urologist, has witnessed the value of Angel Flight from both the pilot volunteer and the physician’s perspectives.
THE MISSION OF ANGEL FLIGHT is most important to those seeking specialty treatment far away from home. “There’s an Angel Flight almost every 20 minutes,” said Dawn Cope, Angel Flight’s Melbourne wing leader.
“I’ve been on the receiving end, because there was a patient of mine who was in Asheville and needed to get here so I could operate on her at Wuesthoff,” said Leal.
“As a doctor, you understand the need for patients to access health care they can’t get locally and you see how great need there is.”
Leal has flown Angel Flight missions since 2003. As is typical for volunteer pilots, some of his missions have been short hops from Brevard to Jacksonville, Tampa or Miami, but he’s also done some out-of-state flying for the organization, usually as part of a tag team. In longer flights, volunteers often will take different segments of the flight.
“Each pilot will volunteer for a leg,” said Gayles, who, like Leal, has been part of long-distance flying efforts.
Leal welcomes both patients and their families to his Piper six-seater aircraft. “Having a loved one with you can make a huge difference on the outcome for patients,” said Leal.
Leal has also been certified by Angel Flight to provide assistance as a member of a national disaster relief program in response to disasters.
Matching passengers with charitable aviation resources is coordinated through staff at main hubs such as the Leesburg office.
“They are often pilots themselves and do a very thorough job,” said Leal.
Angel Flights are intended for patients who may not have the financial resources or who cannot easily avail themselves of other forms of transportation. Passengers are never charged for an Angel Flight.
“They’re usually economically strapped, or they can’t travel very well or live in an area that is not easily accessible,” said Leal.
Because pilots donate the entire cost of flights that can range up to $1,000, Angel Flight ascertains that these resources are going to those truly in need.
“It Changed My Life”
Michael Smith knows just how important Angel Flight can be. The double-transplant recipient was so grateful for Angel Flight’s help that he became a spokesperson for the organization, a squadron leader for Vero Beach Angel Flights…and a pilot to boot.
Michael Smith knows just how important Angel Flight can be. The double-transplant recipient was so grateful for Angel Flight’s help that he became a spokesperson for the organization, a squadron leader for Vero Beach Angel Flights...and a pilot to boot.
“He is trying to build his flying time so he can sign up to fly for Angel Flight Southeast in the near future,” said Mathis.
In 2005, Smith, who had been on dialysis for three years, received the call for a kidney/pancreas transplant in Gainesville. The Sebastian resident had a three-hour window to get there.
Angel Flight pilot Don Lindell whisked him to Gainesville and to a new life free from dialysis and diabetes. “It changed my life,” said Smith, who became good friends with Lindell.
Just weeks after his operation, Smith started taking flying lessons so he, too, could fly with Angel Flight.
“I was given a beautiful new life and I wanted to do something,” he said. “I’m just so grateful Angel Flight was there for me.”
For patients like Smith, Angel Flight is indeed heaven sent. “It is truly a blessing,” said Smith.
For more information on Angel Flight Southeast, contact 800-352-4256 or visit www.AngelFlightse.org.
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