just a little update
Well I don't have much to write this time, but I thought I should give a little update.
As far as the lifeguard helicopter, they found John Stumpff's body and some wreckage washed ashore. The rest were not recovered but the helicopter appears to be at the bottom of Prince William Sound. John was the nurse, Cameron Carter was the paramedic, and Lance Brabham was the pilot. They were transporting Gaye McDowell from Cordova to Anchorage. The impact this has had on Alaska EMS is hard to comprehend outside of the service. We all know very well the dangers of helicopter transports, yet the benefits outweigh the risks for those dedicated personnel you do it everyday. All we on the ground can do is pray and put our trust in God. The men and women who serve and fly are the best of the best, well equipped to do their job, and selfless caring people. My heart goes out to them and their families. Statistics say someday this will happen again...but for the crew I know and respect odds are good it may never happen on their shift. In the sad and tragic case that it does, I'm glad God is their wings.
I was going to write more about what was going on in my life, but check back in a few days. I couldn't bear to just carry on as normal after reflecting on the lifeguard crew. They at least deserve their own post. So a little more info about the crew.
John Stumpff was 47 years old and had a wife, two daughters, and a granddaughter. He had also been in the Air Force then a firefighter/paramedic in Dover, NH (awarded firefighter of the year too) before moving to Florida, then Alaska as a nurse.
Cameron Carter also worked for Central Emergency Services as a firefighter/paramedic in Soldotna. He was just 24 years old. He was one of those people everyone just loved to be around. Always caring and thinking about others first, constantly smiling, and up to any challenge.
Lance Brabham - I wish I knew more, but I believe he had flown for lifeguard for a year and was 42. I couldn't verify anything on line, but I believe he also was married with a kid. At the memorial they said he loved tinkering with anything electronic. Great for a pilot, eh? Please if someone know's more let me know.
I know even less about the patient.
posted by Becki @ 11:29 PM
1 Comments
1 Comments:
Hi, Becky. My name is Chris Plasting - I am the ex-wife of Lance and mother of his 21 year son - his only child. Even though we have been divorced for many years, Lance and I remained friends. We were email buddies during the last 10 months of his life (I still have a hard time believing he is gone.) Anyway, Lance truly loved flying helicopters. It was a lifelong dream that he was able to fulfill. He had worked previously as a helicopter pilot in the South Pacific with a fishing company, then to Galveston TX, for an oil company (where he met his girlfriend - she had moved to Alaska with Lance in January of 2007).
Lance would email me, when he started interviewing with Lifeguard. He was so excited - he knew it would be the most fulfilling job he could ever dream having, and it turned to out be more than true. Lance would tell me about some of the rescues he went on. He even sent a link to a slide show of a beach rescue he participated in. There he was, helmet off and in the action of trying to get the patient on the stretcher. I told him that I was proud to know that he wasn't one of those pilots who would just sit in the helicopter!
Many times family members would be allowed to fly with them, during the trip to the hospital. Lance would assure the member and try to help them relax during the flight. Then, at the hospital, many times Lance would get coffee for the nurses, check on the status of patients who may have been admitted. It just didn't end for him, when the helicopter landed at the hospital. That's just the kind of guy he is... was.
Our son, Logan, talked to Lance for the last time on Thanksgiving. During their conversation, Lance was working and he got a call. Logan said, "you could hear the excitement in his voice, because he was about to go on a rescue."
Anyway, I hope this helps you see a small picture of the pilot, Lance Brabham. A true friend to me, a true hero to his son. We miss him terribly.
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