Angel MedFlight Worldwide Ambulance Brings Bone Marrow Donor from Germany to Meet Grateful Recipient in Iowa for a Touching "Holiday Homecoming"
Angel MedFlight Worldwide Air Ambulance marks the return of its video series My Real Life Moment™ with the release of the "Holiday Homecoming" video.
- (1888PressRelease) January 13, 2014 - In December 2013, the public voted for the top five finalists in Angel MedFlight Air Ambulance's inaugural online Holiday Homecoming campaign. The public's choice was Lori McFate from Bettendorf, Iowa and the man who she says saved her life. Interested participants submitted a 500-word essay on why they, or their nominee, should be chosen for the homecoming flight. Essays were accepted from anyone with a story to tell.
Angel MedFlight's goal of this inaugural campaign was to give back by helping someone reunite or connect with a loved one, allowing the community to determine the recipient of the donated flight.
Lori nominated Michael Henkel, who donated life-saving bone marrow through the international registry more than seven years ago. For nearly a decade, the pair waited to meet as they now share the same DNA, and each considers the other "family." Lori said she asked Angel MedFlight to fly "home" this man who gave her the ultimate gift: life.
After vigorous participation by online voters, Lori's story captured the hearts of the voters and she won. On Saturday, December 28, 2013, the two were able to meet for the first time and the touching moment was captured by Angel MedFlight's Emmy-winning videography team.
As Lori wrote in her essay, "He is not my brother, cousin, uncle or any other family member. But we are 'family' because we now have the exact same DNA, blood type and bone marrow."
"For me this is one of the most important days of my life," Lori said. "I am meeting a man who saved my life. Michael is a very humble, very noble man. He acts like you know he would do this at any moment for anyone because it's the right thing to do."
Michael said it has been "an indescribable experience. I donated bone marrow, just as everybody would donate blood or something like that," he added, "Now you see the person who survived and who is so thankful for that…it's amazing."
Don't miss this poignant video story, available today on the Angel MedFlight YouTube channel.
Angel MedFlight thanks all the essay writers and finalists who participated. There were many touching stories. As a surprise, the other four finalists are receiving Southwest Airlines gift cards to help them connect with their loved ones, at a time of their choice.
To schedule an interview on this topic, contact Chandra Stewart at (480)634-8017 or cstewart ( @ ) angelmedflight dot com
About Angel MedFlight Worldwide Air Ambulance
Angel MedFlight provides domestic and international air medical transportation services, commercial medical escorts, ground ambulance services and provides discretionary insurance benefit assistance. Angel MedFlight's One Touch Promise® assures every detail is handled and all resources are committed to guide the process from start to finish with a compassionate team of experts in the fields of medicine, aviation, insurance law and case management.
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