Growing up, AJ was always fascinated by Life Flight Network because it combined his two interests: aviation and medicine. After 14 years working in commercial aviation, his interest in medicine prompted him to move back to La Grande, OR, and pursue a career change.

Unfortunately, AJ’s life took a significant turn when he was diagnosed with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) and required shunts in his brain. He developed a shunt infection and subsequent surgical meningitis. He was admitted to Grande Ronde Hospital in La Grande, OR, but his brain was swelling, and he was showing signs of cognitive decline. AJ needed emergency surgery, and Life Flight Network was called in to keep him stabilized while providing rapid transport to Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) in Portland, OR.

Despite the challenges, Life Flight Network got AJ to the specialists he needed during an uncertain time—April 2020, at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

AJ spent a week in the ICU at OHSU, his memories fragmented by the effects of the infection and surgery. Though the time remains a blur, he vividly remembers the kindness of the Life Flight Network crew. The flight nurse stood out in particular—regularly checking in with AJ, squeezing his shoulder, and keeping him calm. “I was scared and didn’t know when I was going to see my family again, but the nurse was so comforting and reassuring,” AJ recalls. Despite the fear, a part of him also marveled at finally experiencing a Life Flight Network flight, a small nod to his lifelong fascination with air medical operations.

After the surgery, AJ was discharged earlier than usual due to COVID concerns. Normally, he would have stayed in the hospital until the infection was completely resolved, but instead, he returned home with a PICC line and completed his antibiotic treatment there. A month later, the shunts were replaced. Remarkably, three months after his initial infection, AJ returned to work—only to contract COVID-19 on his first day back. Despite this setback, he continued working for about eight months, before his health ultimately forced him to stop.

Throughout this journey, AJ has been supported by his family. His wife, Nikie, is an EMT and now an emergency dispatcher in their community. During AJ’s recovery, he found solace in helping his kids with their at-home schoolwork. Living in a small town provides the peace and connection AJ values for his family life, even though it means having to travel long distances for specialty medical care.

There’s a poignant connection to Life Flight Network beyond AJ’s own experience: his father, who helped build the helipad at Grande Ronde Hospital, was also transported by Life Flight Network shortly after its completion. AJ’s appreciation for Life Flight Network is deepened by these personal experiences. The professionalism, empathy, and life-saving care he received are forever etched in his memory—reminding him of the importance of access to rapid, critical care, especially for those in rural communities.