Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - 24
take flight
Atlanta organization provides free air transport
for medical services
By Amber Lanier Nagle
" It became a full-time job just to stay alive, " he says. " I
started dialysis treatments to remove waste products and excess
fluid from my blood in June, and I got on the kidney transplant
lists in Jacksonville [Fla.], Charleston [S.C.], Atlanta and
Birmingham [Ala.]. "
The wait usually takes months, but just two weeks after he
registered in Birmingham, his phone rang.
" They said they had a kidney for me if I could get to
Birmingham in three hours, " Mells says. " I made dozens of
phone calls and posted to my social media accounts trying to
find an emergency flight, but nothing worked out. "
Time expired, and Mells was forced to forfeit the kidney.
" Someone on social media told me to call Angel Flight
Soars and sign up for their flight assistance, " he says. " I called
them, and they said, 'We can help you next time.' "
At the end of March 2020, Mells learned of another kidney
in Birmingham. A volunteer pilot with Angel Flight Soars
dropped everything, met Mells at the airport in Brunswick and
flew him to the hospital for his transplant surgery.
Sadly, Mells' body rejected the kidney.
" It was such a dark time for me, " he says. " Not only had the
transplant failed, but because of COVID, I was isolated from so
24
Georgia Magazine
May 2021
LOREN MELLS
Loren Mells of Darien had always been a
strong, independent person. He served his
country as a U.S. Marine for six years and
then worked two jobs and long hours to
provide for his family. But everything
changed in 2017. After years of battling
diabetes and high blood pressure, the father
of three was diagnosed with end-stage renal
disease, also known as stage 5 kidney disease.
Angel Flight Soars pilots transported kidney transplant patient Loren
Mells, of Darien, to several medical appointments and surgeries in
Birmingham, Ala.
many people I love. I got through it with hope, belief, faith and
patience. "
Against all odds, Mells matched a third donor's kidney in
November. Again, an Angel Flight Soars volunteer pilot welcomed him onto a private plane and flew him to Birmingham
just in time for the lifesaving transplant surgery.
Georgia Magazine - May 2021
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - May 2021
Contents
Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - Intro
Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - Cover1
Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - Cover2
Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - Contents
Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - 4
Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - 5
Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - 6
Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - 7
Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - 8
Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - 9
Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - 10
Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - 11
Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - 12
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Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - 14
Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - 15
Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - 16
Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - 17
Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - 18
Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - 19
Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - 20
Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - 21
Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - 22
Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - 23
Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - 24
Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - 25
Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - 26
Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - 27
Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - 28
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Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - 31
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Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - 33
Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - 34
Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - 35
Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - 36
Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - 37
Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - 38
Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - Cover3
Georgia Magazine - May 2021 - Cover4
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