Angel Flight
I just wanted to put this information out there for those on this site who are from outback, remote, rural or regional Australia, who have problems with getting to and from medical appointments, treatments etc( problems with distance, costs etc), there is a service out these that some people it seem have never heard of, or thought of using it is called ANGEL FLIGHT.http://www.angelflight.org.au/
It is a non emergency service that uses pilots and small planes to fly people from local airstrips to airstrips near their appointmentsFOR FREE, they then use their Earth Angels to pick you up where the plane lands and drive you to your appointment etc and then return you to the airfield afterwards.
These pilots volunteer their time, planes, services, cars etc to help (They are all certified pilots etc) those who otherwise would have difficulties or financial and family hardship getting the medical attention and treatments they need.
To use this free service you need to get someone from your medical team (Doctor, Nurse, Breast Care Nurse, and Social Worker etc) to either contact Angel flight to discuss the case or to register as a referring health profession via the Angel Flight website.
You must be ambulatory to use the service (i.e. able to get on board etc without pilot help, be able to sit up in the plane with a seatbelt on and communicate with the pilot, if necessary), and can (in fact they prefer) you fly with a friend or family member.
This is an AUSTRALIA WIDE service (although Angel Flight is based in QLD), they have pilots and Earth Angels all over the country.
This service can cut travel times down for some from day(s) to hour(s), allowing you t be back with your family sooner, and reducing the financial burden on the family as well. It can allow people to attend there appointment and be back home in less than a day instead of being away for days. It doesn't matter if you go there and back in one day or go down and return days/ weeks later after treatment, surgery etc (they even do runs for long term treatment and hospital patients (like those who are away from home for chemotherapy and radiotherapy, to get them home for the weekend or a week etc between treatments to help with their and their families emotional and mental well being etc). They are happy if you use it once in your life or if you use it once or more a week, whatever is needed.
While I have NEVER had need of this service (I am lucky in that I live in Canberra and most of my treatments are available locally, but if it had of been available when I was a child, we would definitely have used it (when I used to travel to Melbourne from Warrnambool lying on a mattress in the back of a station wagon, drugged up on pain killers, to make me able to make the journey, to the RCH to see my specialists), I know people who have and they say it is AMAZING, the Angel Flight pilots are wonderful people as are the Earth Angels, and it has saved them and their families many times.
I don't have anything to do with the company etc but know the difference it can make to patients and their families.
Anyway like I said I thought I would put this out there for those for who don't know about this service, but for whom this service might make a difference.
I hope I don't upset or offend anyone by posting this (but my thoughts are if you don't know about something, or a service etc you can't make use of it).
Comments
-
It did that weird thing it does when you post from word again (and with my chemo brain I cant remember how to fix it and I can't find the post where you told me how to fix it last time).
Thanks... ?
0 -
It is Australia WIDE. It is avaiable in ALL areas of Australia, I have seen lists of past jobs in rural WA, so they DEFINATELY do WA.
Glad I could help, and give you antoher option, for getting to appointments
0 -
Thanks Shaz, very much appreciated luvy.
Mich xo
0 -
Will you be living in Perth during your Radiotherapy?
I am guessing you will becasue 4hrs there and back everyday is more than ANYONE can take, or afford
0 -
Yes I will be staying at a place called Crawford Lodge which is available for Country patients more than 1 hrs drive from Perth. I will be there for 7 weeks. Long time to be away from home but if it beats this bugger so be it.
Mich xo
0 -
No worries, Shaz -- that's easy to fix. In fact, all done!
I'm happy to do it any time (don't worry about asking). But if you're feeling brave and want to try it yourself, here's the instructions again: go to the 'edit' tab, select the text you want to keep by clicking with your mouse and dragging over it, then use your keyboard to copy (ctrl-C). Then, to delete the silly code you can't see, use your keyboard to 'select all' (ctrl-A) and delete it by hitting the 'delete' key on your keyboard -- that will delete everything you can see, plus the background stuff you can't see. Then you paste the text you copied back in using ctrl-v.
The other (easier) way is to type your draft text straight into the posting window (you can check it using the 'preview' button before you post), or into a text only program like Notepad or SimpleText. Then you don't get any of that silly Word code.
Hope that helps (but seriously, don't ever worry if it goes a bit wrong -- it's no big deal
.0 -
It is a long way from home for a long time, but like you said worth it, to help you bea tthis disease.
Will hubby be able to come and see you while in Perth?, or will you be able to do a weekend or 2 back at home? (looking at the Angel Flight site, they may be able to help with that).
I am glad that you have the option of the Lodge to stay in to give you accommodation close to the hospital. Do you get meal services too, or have a kitchen to make meals (help cut your costs down)?
0 -
Hi Shaz, I knew of this organisation but unmistakenly thought I didn't fit the criteria. When I have had my radiation regime (twice) it has meant that I have been away from home (8 hours by car - one hour by plane) for the entire time.(7 weeks the first and 6 weeks the second) We have Patient Subsidy Scheme (PSS) in Queensland which pays for travel to and from the location. But they don't pay for any trips home during treatment. I chose to pay for a trip home each time but of course everything costs money. If only I knew that I could access this service. Now I do. Thank you as I know of others who will now be able to benefit from this service. XLeonie
0 -
Hi Shaz, I knew of this organisation but unmistakenly thought I didn't fit the criteria. When I have had my radiation regime (twice) it has meant that I have been away from home (8 hours by car - one hour by plane) for the entire time.(7 weeks the first and 6 weeks the second) We have Patient Subsidy Scheme (PSS) in Queensland which pays for travel to and from the location. But they don't pay for any trips home during treatment. I chose to pay for a trip home each time but of course everything costs money. If only I knew that I could access this service. Now I do. Thank you as I know of others who will now be able to benefit from this service. XLeonie
0 -
Glad I could help.
Wish you had of know about it while in treatmetns etc, as Breast Cancer is costly enough as it is, without the added costs that those who are away from treatment incur, and if you don't know abotu these services, then you can't utilise them.
If it helps even one person, then I am VERY happy that I posted it.
0 -
It is a long way from home for a long time but I do have some family in Perth so that should be a bonus and we will beat this bloody disease!!
Hubby will probably be home for one week while I am down there so that will be nice.
Yes the Lodge is a fabulous thing that a farmer started quite a few years ago which is fantastic for country people. We can order frozen meals and there is facilities to cook on so all good.
Thanks again Shaz
Take care,
Mich xo
0
