Mercy Flight™ Southeast's Georgia Wing Pilot, David Campbell
... in his own words, as published in the Gwinnett Citizen in Larenceville, Georgia

I’ve been a pilot for three years. Flying has been a fantastic experience.

Like all pilots, I have fond memories of a few flights that were somehow extra special. The most recent of these was in June when I flew my first mission for Mercy Flight™ Southeast ... A four-month-old baby boy in Florida suffering from the rare genetic skin disease, ichthyosis. The disease was finally diagnosed, thanks to his mother’s perseverance, but unfortunately there is no known cure.

The mission was from Destin, Florida (DTS) to Atlanta, Georgia (PDK), so that the baby, his mother, and his grandmother could attend a conference and learn more about the disease and how to better care for the child.

The night before, I was excited yet somewhat on edge. I knew that I would enjoy the flying but wanted everything to be perfect for my passengers. I didn’t want to overlook any consideration.

The next day everything went well, and we had a relaxing and enjoyable flight. Their transportation arrived shortly after we landed in Atlanta. As they had done several times that day, my passengers thanked me. Then they were on their way. The mission was accomplished.

Walking back to the plane I felt extremely gratified – and tired. At the same time, however, I wasn’t ready for it to end.

By far, the most rewarding part of the mission was my passengers. Getting to know them was quite a joy. It was obvious that they were determined to do everything possible for the baby, and I know they are doing just that. Many times they expressed their gratitude for everyone involved with their mission.

I look forward to flying many more missions. This was my first, however, and I’ll never forget it. Thanks, Mercy Flight™ Southeast, for allowing me this opportunity.