Local non-profit in Yuma continues to help children and families transporting for medical care
Manoah Tuiasosopo
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) – A local non-profit in Yuma is supporting children who are airlifted out of town for medical care.
The Exceptional Community Hospital (ECH) just received a handful of Addie Packs.
These packs are filled with supplies like teddy bears, blankets, and Walmart gift cards and are designed to help ill children and their families get through some of their toughest times.
Stacy Tams, the COO of Addie Packs, shares the story behind her organization.
“My daughter Addison was born with congenital heart defects and was [air-evacuated] to Phoenix at 10 days old. So, we started Addie Packs in her honor to try to help out families going through the same situation,” she shared.
Tams says her daughter Addie underwent five open heart surgeries during her life and spent over 300 days of her first year being cared for in Phoenix.
Flight nurse Haley Stinson says for children with specialized needs, seeking care out of town is often the only option.
“We do transport a bunch of kids because Yuma doesn’t carry a bunch of pediatric services. You really do have to go to Phoenix or San Diego,” says Stinson.
A trip that would take three hours by ground only takes one hour by air.
With the help of the Addie Packs, patients will be able to receive a more well-rounded care.
Stinson says, “It provides that emotional support that we don’t always have the ability to carry on the aircraft so it’s a great way to support our patients in a different aspect.”
Young or old, the Air Methods team says their flight volumes in the area are steadily increasing.
Flight pilot Rob Olmstead says, “The need for air transport in Yuma is constantly growing because the population is growing and we’re glad to be here to facilitate that.”
Luis Cebreros, the ER Manager at ECH, says keeping a strong relationship with the helicopter team and hospitals in Phoenix are crucial for quality patient care, especially pediatric patients.
“Most of us working in the field are parents so we put ourselves in their positions, and we feel bad. So, finding the right place for them, that is important. We have built a very good relationship with hospitals in the valley as well,” shared Cebreros.
The Addie Packs organization solely relies on grants and donation, and if you would like to help out, click here.