IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Aircare Service is celebrating its 40th year of care Saturday by allowing families to come and check out the equipment they use on a daily basis.
As reported by KCRG.com, around 40,000 flights have been made since the program began; Eddie Ortiz of West Liberty was one of them. That’s why he is bringing his family out to not only see the equipment but say thank you.
“I thought I was going to die,” Ortiz said holding back tears. “I asked my coworker to tell my girlfriend and kids that I loved them.”
Ortiz was driving over a railroad track in a skid loader when he was struck. Ortiz said none of the warning systems went off and the train wasn’t blowing their horn. He suffered a severed liver, a collapsed lung and split diaphragm and much more.
One of Ortiz’s coworkers doubles as a firefighter. He’s the one that told responders life flight was going to be needed. That’s where flight nurse Patrick Doser comes in.
“We usually can get the helicopter off the ground seven minutes after the page comes out,” He said.
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