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Assist America in Action

*all names have been changed for privacy

Ejected Equestrian in Connecticut

Allison* traveled from her home in Pennsylvania to Danbury, Connecticut, to compete in a horse show with her new mare, Aphrodite.  The pair performed beautifully in their first two classes, and Allison’s trainer was pleased to see all of their hard work paying off.  In the third class though, as they approached a combination jump, Aphrodite was spooked by a shadow and shied abruptly to the right.  Allison tumbled off the horse’s neck, falling onto the jump on her way to the ground.  The event’s on-duty EMTs loaded her in the ambulance and headed immediately to the emergency room as her parents followed by car.  Allison’s father called Assist America. 

Our medical coordinators assured Allison’s father that she was at a very reputable hospital and receiving excellent care.  After a series of x-rays, she was diagnosed with two pelvic fractures.  Though she did not require surgery, she had to remain immobilized in the hospital for 3 days, and Assist America monitored her care and condition throughout her stay.

At discharge time, making the long car ride back home to Pennsylvania was clearly not feasible for Allison.   Assist America arranged for her to fly home in an air ambulance accompanied by a medical escort and her mother, along with ground ambulance transfers at both ends.  Her father drove the family car home, while the trainer took care of transporting Aphrodite back to the barn.  Allison arrived home safely to continue her recovery, and her parents were very grateful for the watchful care and support throughout the ordeal.  Another happy ending thanks to Assist America!

The Fall of Rome

Jennifer* was attending a teaching seminar amidst the historic beauty of Rome, Italy.  Working up a healthy appetite from the first day’s agenda, she and some colleagues were eager to experience the renowned local Italian cuisine.  They got no farther than the building’s lobby when Jennifer slipped and fell sidelong onto the marble floor, fracturing her femur. 

As she was rushed to the nearest hospital, Jennifer’s colleagues called Assist America for help.  Our medical coordinators facilitated Jennifer’s admittance to the medical facility and monitored her care throughout her stay.  She received excellent treatment and after some time was stable enough for travel with assistance. 

Assist America transported Jennifer via business class commercial air—with a medical escort—to a rehabilitation center near her home in Kentucky to complete her recovery.  She was extremely relieved that we were by her side through such a difficult experience.  Another happy ending thanks to Assist America!  

Ocular Irritation in Omaha

Charles* traveled from Nevada to Omaha, Nebraska, to spend a few days helping an old Army buddy restore his 1952 pickup truck.  After catching up over lunch the two friends got to work on the truck.  Charles was busy under the hood when his eye began to burn and his vision blurred—he had unwittingly wiped some lubricating oil on his forehead, and it dripped into his eye.  Remembering his Assist America benefit, Charles asked his pal to call for help.  Our medical coordinators directed Charles for immediate care to a nearby emergency room with an on-call ophthalmologist, and notified the hospital in advance that the specialist would be required for Charles’ care.

Charles was tested for a corneal abrasion, and the results were negative.  He was diagnosed with a chemical irritation and was given a wash to flush out his eye every hour.  Checking in with Charles later, our coordinators were happy to hear that his eye felt relieved and his vision was gradually coming back into focus.  By the next day, he was able to resume work on the truck, and a week later he returned home with perfect vision thanks to Assist America!         

Aneurysm in India

While in India for a news media conference, Carmela* and her colleagues had some free time and decided to visit the Taj Majal.  Carmela suddenly lost consciousness as they toured the grounds.  Her friends rushed her to the nearest hospital, where it was determined that she had suffered a brain aneurysm.  She was quickly transferred to a higher quality facility in New Delhi, where she spent nearly two months in the intensive care unit; her husband came and remained by her bedside for the duration.

Carmela improved enough to be discharged, but needed help getting home as well as continued medical rehabilitation.  Her employer called Assist America.  We immediately consulted with her doctors and agreed that she would need considerable assistance for transport, since she was unable to sit upright for long periods.  We flew Carmela, who remained comfortably on a stretcher throughout the trip, and her husband via commercial carrier with two medical escorts back to the Philippines, and delivered her safely to the receiving rehabilitation facility.  

From Snowboarding to Surgery

Kimberly* and her college buddies packed up and headed out from school for a long weekend of snowboarding in Mammoth Lakes, California.   It was an exhilarating day on the slopes, but back at the lodge Kimberly suddenly cringed with a sharp pain in her abdomen.  When it did not subside even after resting, her friends took her to the nearest emergency room. 

Kimberly needed an emergency appendectomy, which was performed without delay at the very capable local medical facility.  Her mother, understandably shaken from the news of her daughter’s illness, drove seven hours to be by Kimberly’s side.  She also called Assist America. 

Although Kimberly’s surgery was successful, she was still recuperating.  Assist America’s coordinators knew that her post-surgery discomfort would be exacerbated by a long drive—especially one that took a route with no hospitals on the way in case of emergency.  We arranged and paid for Kimberly and her mom to fly home via commercial carrier; one of her travel companions offered to drive her mom’s car home.  They arrived safe and sound to finish out the recovery process.  Another happy ending thanks to Assist America!  

Hang-gliding Hangup

John was always an avid outdoor adventurer, so when he and his wife, Beth, visited Valle de Bravo, Mexico, with a group of their close friends, a hang gliding outing was a focal point of the agenda.  On a beautiful day, John took to the air, soaring above the countryside.  But as he approached the landing site, the tip of his glider hit a tree, sending him spinning to the ground from 20 feet in the air.  John’s friends rushed him to a nearby hospital. 

Doctors quickly determined the extent of John’s injuries:  he had broken seven ribs, punctured and collapsed his right lung, suffered a concussion and sustained other injuries to his kidneys and stomach. Adding a complication, he was taking blood thinners which made his bleeding more serious than it otherwise might have been.  Beth called Assist America. 

Our medical coordinators conferred with John’s treating healthcare team, confirming he was receiving appropriate treatment and monitoring his progress over the span of his five-week stay in the hospital.  At the time of discharge he was still quite debilitated, so we arranged for John to be transported home to Kentucky in a fully staffed air ambulance and ground ambulances at both ends, with his wife by his side.  John returned home safe and sound to continue his recovery.  Another happy ending thanks to Assist America!