One of the joys for six-year-old Joel during his treatment for leukaemia at the Royal Childrens’ Hospital Brisbane was seeing the medi-vac helicopters landing each day to pick up patients.
It has always been Joel’s Wish to fly a Rescue helicopter. He is mad about helicopters and enjoys an occasional flight in the small one his dad Brendan uses for his job mustering cattle. So when the opportunity arose for Make-A-Wish to grant him his cherished Wish, Joel didn’t hesitate to ask for a flight in a REX Rescue helicopter.
CQ Rescue in Mackay were only too happy to assist with the granting of this cherished Wish, giving Joel a flight over Mackay, a tour of the hanger and demonstrations of the rescue equipment. He even got to experience being lifted a few feet off the ground by the rescue winch. He was also able to learn about the role of the doctors aboard the helicopter.
Joel really enjoyed the flight and it will be something he will remember for a long time. He no longer has to wonder what it was like to fly in the medi-vac helicopters he saw daily from his hospital window because he has been able to experience it firsthand. And the best part was it was not as a patient but as someone experiencing an amazing Wish.
Make-A-Wish would like to thank the doctors, flight crew and staff of the Central Queensland Helicopter Rescue Service for their assistance with this Wish.