Patient Stories

Our patients and their families are truly the heart of LifeFlight. We often meet those whom we care for on the worst day of their life, and an important part of our healing and resilience is to share their stories. We marvel and are inspired by their courage, determination, and grit as they move forward from that day.

If you are a former LifeFlight of Maine patient and would like to share your story, please contact Henry Frank, director of communications, at hfrank@lifeflightmaine.org or 207-631-4307.

A Second Chance on Life: Stories from LifeFlight Patients

Over the past 25 years, LifeFlight has cared for more than 37,000 patients. Working together with our EMS and hospital emergency and intensive care providers, we work to change time and geography, to reset the clock for a patient suddenly in need with their life at stake. Here are three vignettes out of thousands of LifeFlight stories through the years.

Read the story.

A Second Chance on Life: Stories from LifeFlight Patients

Over the past 25 years, LifeFlight has cared for more than 37,000 patients. Working together with our EMS and hospital emergency and intensive care providers, we work to change time and geography, to reset the clock for a patient suddenly in need with their life at stake. Here are three vignettes out of thousands of LifeFlight stories through the years.

John Bosse

John Bosse spent most of his career on the administrative side of healthcare as a senior director of patient financial services, but in 2021 he found himself on the other side of the healthcare system as a critically ill COVID-19 patient.

Howard Brown

Howard was riding his motorcycle home from work in Waterville when he was hit…

Josiah Babcock

Josiah missed a change in trail conditions, and went into the woods at over 70 mph…

Alexis Michaud

It was an ordinary day when Jen Michaud noticed her daughter’s speech was irregular…

Dave Ryan

Two minutes into the routine phone call with his wife, Dave stopped responding…

Don Dunham

After fighting a brush fire, Don could not catch his breath and experienced severe chest pain…

Doug Mirts

When Tonya came across Doug, he had collapsed from an apparent cardiac arrest…

Joey Jordan

The ATV rolled over on Joey, landing on top of him and crushing his lungs and heart…

Cheryl Ann Roy

Cheryl Ann Roy of Calais had to get to Bangor for an emergency C-section …and a Nor’easter was on the way.

Connor Jackman

“I remember how compassionate the LifeFlight crew was,” said Alexa. “They stayed to check in on us long after we arrived at the hospital.”

Eugene Janvrin

“I remember coming to, and people were yelling and doing chest compressions on me,” says Eugene.

Paige Smith

“I want to care for my patients the way LifeFlight took care of me,” says EMT Paige Smith.

Michael Tammaro

“I said to my girlfriend, you gotta get me to the hospital. I think I’m in big trouble,” shared Mike Tammaro…

Peter Blanchard

“I think the reason I made it is that all the pieces came together at the right time, including the helicopter,” reflected Peter Blanchard.

Sawyer Jacobs

“We couldn’t be more grateful for this second chance,” said Jeanette of her son Sawyer.

The Day Family

Megan said simply: “I know neither Kyra or I would be here without LifeFlight. I’ll never stop saying thank you.”