Sunday, October 18, 2015

Flight Design CTSW, N459CT: Woman fighting cancer gets flying wish



WICHITA FALLS, Texas - Before Shannon Garrett faced surgery for cancer, a procedure that gave her a 20 percent chance of survival, she had her mind in the clouds.

On her bucket list, a trip in the clouds.

Two selfless angels dropped out of heaven.

Her son and daughter-in-law, Lawson and April Kaufman, set out to grant her wish to fly above Wichita Falls. The couple had only been told about Shannon’s thyroid cancer, dangerously wrapped around her jugular vein, a few days before the surgery. Shannon, 50, didn’t want to upset the family.

When she finally broke the news, Lawson asked his mother if there was anything she wanted, anything she wanted to do before the frightening surgery.

She wanted to go up in a plane.

“We didn’t know any pilots in town,” April said, “so we called around to the airports. None of the pilots there could help us. They had obligations already lined up before the surgery. We only had a few days. We were really in limbo.”

Until, April said, she decided to do something she’d never done -- plead for help on Facebook.

“I don’t have a smart phone,” she said. “I’m only on Facebook to keep up with family.”

April posted on the Facebook page, The Wichita Falls Trading Post:

“Okay, Facebook, I am In desperate need of some help ASAP! I am needing a pilot to take a lady who was diagnosed with thyroid cancer ... up in a plane or helicopter this weekend before her surgery Monday. This is on her bucket list and would love to help her mark it off! We are willing to pay the fees, just need to know who to contact! ASAP. Thank you and God bless!”

Then, April turned off Facebook and went about her day, hoping to find an answer when she logged back on.

That evening, she found angels Kim and Alan Sizemore had messaged her.

Plans were made to meet at Kickapoo Downtown Airport. Shannon, who is now recovering from surgery, was overwhelmed with excitement and gratitude, and for a little while absent of worry.

“It was so emotional,” April said. “Just shear joy. She was just in shock that something like this would happen, someone would offer to fly her around, out of the blue.”

The Sizemores performed a “purely selfless” act, April said, and put aside their own worries. Shannon and her family would learn that Kim Sizemore would be undergoing a surgical procedure in Dallas on the same day Shannon would go under the knife.

“God was working for us,” April said. “Kim and Allen are our angels.”