So that I can fly organ transplant candidates from their home to Cleveland for their transplant surgery, I need funds for flight training. When they receive The Call, they have to be here within a few hours, yet many are a 5-8 hour drive and many are too close to take a scheduled airline flight.
I patient is nervous and it would help them to see what a positive result, which is their pilot being a transplant recipient. During the flight I can also discuss and prep them emotionally for their surgery which is only a couple of hours away.
I am a 2 time organ transplant recipient, the last one, a liver/kidney transplant was in April, 2007.
I am not as young as other applicants, yet I bring a ton of experience that will help many transplant candidates who are waiting for life saving organ transplant surgery.
I need funding for my private pilot lessons. I started flying when I was a teen and could not get my medical passed for over 9 years. Once I passed I could not start flying due to family obligations, and eventually my first transplant in 1997. After my transplant in 2007, I researched and found that there are many pilots who are transplant recipients and applied for my medical and within 2 months had my medical approved.
I went flying on August 7, after a 18 year layoff and the flight instructor did not touch the controls and did very little 'instructing'. Even though I did not fly for years, I maintained my skills from using flight simulators as a hobby, and that hobby paid off.
I volunteer in the transplant center and the transplant ward at the Cleveland Clinic, and this will set a tremendous example for patients, and the hospitals.
