Air Force evacuates 63 terminally ill patients from St. Croix

The 45th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron of Reserves transported 63 patients with end-stage renal disease to Georgia

October 02, 2017 12:09 PM

The patients were transported to Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Georgia and were met by a team of seven doctors.

By FireRescue1 Staff

COBB COUNTY, Ga. — An Air Force crew transported 63 terminally ill patients to Georgia from St. Croix after the local power grid was destroyed by Hurricane Maria.

SCPR reported that Air Force Major Gavril Goodman was on the humanitarian evacuation flight that landed in St. Croix.

“They were all on dialysis,” Goodman said. “So after an extended period of time, these people become very, very sick.”

The patients were transported to Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Georgia and were met by a team of seven doctors.

Goodman said the patients hugged her when they exited the plane, and one man was especially thankful.

“He actually asked to keep the blanket that we provided on the aircraft,” Goodman said. “He said, ‘I have nothing. May I please have this blanket? I lost everything.’”

The 45^th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron will most likely be active for several weeks.

Evacuation Military