This week we continue our series of blog posts highlighting the awards recipients for the 2014 Hometown Heroes Celebration hosted by the American Red Cross of West Michigan. Each year the American Red Cross celebrates the community heroes who inspire us through their commitment to service and their recognition of the humanity of their neighbors down the street, across the country, and around the world. The event will be held on Thursday, May 1 from 6:00PM-10:00PM at DeVos Place in Grand Rapids. For ticket information please visit our Hometown Heroes event page.
Story by Heather Goodale
The American Red Cross of West Michigan is so pleased this year to honor Aero Med team at Spectrum Health for its contributions to the West Michigan community and the heroic actions of the physicians, nurses, and other crew members that save lives every day by performing in-flight emergency care.
The physicians and nurses at Aero Med work tirelessly to provide top-notch critical care to patients in need – and every day is different; in this type of job, you never know what your day will look like when you come into work. There could be no calls or 5 calls, and the patients’ needs are always different.
Whether the patient is 9 days old or 90 years old, the team does everything in its power to provide the best care possible for the patient. Sometimes it isn’t enough to save a life, but the team picks up the pieces and cares for the next patient to the best of its ability. There’s “nothing glamorous” about the job, says an Aero Med team member.
The Aero Med program in Grand Rapids was launched in 1986 and took its first flight in 1987. One team member, an experienced flight nurse that’s been with Aero Med since 1993, is humbled by the Community Heroes nomination.
The team does its job for the love of doing the job and the opportunity to help those in need – not to receive awards. They don’t view themselves as heroes. While they may not regard themselves as the stuff of legend, for nearly 30 years West Michigan has relied on the men and women of Aero Med to care for our neighbors in theirAero Med is ready to serve West Michigan around the clock.
American Red Cross of West Michigan 