SUBSEQUENT TRIP REQUEST: 58th and 59th flights.

Four year old Tyson has profound deafness and vision problems. This Angel flight was for him to attend specialists in Sydney for ongoing audiological and speech therapy post cochlear implant.

Media Release 7th February 2008

ANGEL FLIGHT - HELPING A LITTLE BOY TO HEAR

On Monday 11th February at approximately 9.00am, four-year-old Tyson Lindsay and his father Jamie flew out of Wagga Wagga on what was their 58th Angel flight.

Totally deaf since birth, Tyson’s first Angel flight was in May 2006 when he was flown to Sydney to be assessed for a cochlear implant. [A surgically implanted electronic device that provides a sense of sound to the profoundly deaf or severely hard of hearing.]

Fortunately Tyson was assessed as suitable and received his first cochlear implant in November 2006 when he was just three years old. He received a second implant six months ago. Since the first operation it has been necessary for Tyson to fly almost every week to and from the Sydney Cochlear Implant Centre for activation of his implants, testing, tuning, adjustment and evaluation of his hearing levels and for speech therapy.

Tyson’s father Jamie says that after his son received the first implant he could hear some noises but wasn’t quite making out what they meant.

“He’s been doing much better since he had the second implant as he can pick up more sounds and is now starting to say a few words and he’s doing quite well at pre-school too,” Mr Lindsay said.

“It’s good that he’s starting to understand what I’m saying to him although sometimes I have to repeat something up to three times before he can work out what I’m saying, but he is getting better.”

A sole parent, Jamie Lindsay is what one might call a real Aussie battler who is determined to do what it takes to ensure that Tyson gets the help he needs.

“Tyson really makes me proud,” says Mr Lindsay.

“I have to do what is best for him and help him learn to talk so that he’ll get somewhere in life, but I don’t know what I would have done without Angel Flight as there is no way that I could do all this on my own.”

Mr Lindsay said that getting to Sydney from Wagga by road or train would have entailed more than seven hours travel as well as all the difficulties associated with taking a young boy on such a long journey.

“Not only is it too long a journey for Tyson but I couldn’t afford to do it anyway and it would mean at least a couple of days away from home,” said Mr Lindsay.

“Without Angel Flight we wouldn’t have been able to get to the appointments every week but with their help we were able to fly there in the morning and be back home in the afternoon. I’m really grateful that we did it all in one day as it’s much easier on Tyson. He just loves going on the plane and gets really disappointed if he misses out because of bad weather and I can see that the pilots really love what they are doing. The Earth Angels are really good too. They take us to the centre and then back to the airport. I just can’t say too often how appreciative we are for the way they all help us out.”

For Canberra-based Angel Flight pilot, Ralph Holland, flying Tyson and his father to Sydney on their 58th flight, it was the opportunity to do what all Angel Flight pilots love doing – using his skills and time to help country Australians who are faced with medical problems, poor finances and the tyranny of distance.

“I know the exact date I bought my plane and it was just two years and eleven days ago, and I remember it because I did it just so I could become an Angel Flight pilot,” said Mr. Holland.

Born in Tamworth and with a clergyman father, Ralph Holland grew up mostly in small towns and later studied maths and science at Armidale University.

“I have always loved the outback and grew up understanding how isolated so many Australian communities are,” he said.

“About ten years ago, before Angel Flight was around, I was travelling the outback with family and friends when one of the tents caught fire and a family member suffered burns. They weren’t life threatening but because the accident victim also had asthma there was some concern. Fortunately, I am an amateur radio operator and was able to chat to a doctor who helped me administer first aid. We then travelled for three days by road to the nearest medical centre.”

Mr Holland said that he always wanted to fly but it wasn’t until his son said that he wanted to become a pilot that he got serious about it and after training with his son to become a glider pilot he went further and obtained his flying licence.

“I was tickled pink when I heard about Angel Flight and discovered that pilots could help people living in outback Australia,” he said.

“However, I also learned that Angel Flight requirements exceed those of CASA for their pilots and before I could be accepted for a mission I needed to increase my flying hours, but once I had done that I bought my own plane and since then have carried out nine Angel Flights.”

Becoming an Angel Flight pilot has been a very rewarding experience for Ralph in so many ways.

“Doing what I do is very rewarding but some missions are tough when you hear what people have to deal with, so it’s good to do something useful to help people like these instead of just sitting back and flying for my own pleasure,” he said.

“Yes, it does cost me financially to maintain the plane so that I can fly Angel Flight missions, but it is so worth putting all of this into helping people in remote communities. I once considered going overseas to help out, but because of Angel Flight I don’t have to go overseas to make a contribution, I can do it in Australia and at the same time combine it with my hobby of flying.”

Read about a previous mission for Tyson (M2254)

Angel flight 1 by Ralph Holland
This is Ralph's 10th Angel flight

Ralph Holland - Pilot

Mark Whitehead - Earth Angel
(Mark's 12th Angel flight)

Angel flight 2 by Marian Jowitt
This is Marian's 22nd Angel flight

Marian Jowitt - Pilot

Marisa Hobart - Earth Angel
(Marisa's 37th Angel flight)