'Hope Flight' aims to lift spirits amid COVID-19 crisis

KC area pilots did flyovers Friday at hospitals

WeekCraig Wilcox/ KC FlightFormationTeamThey can know there is betterdays ahead"BETTER DAYS ARE AHEAD.HEALTH LEADERS SAIDTHIS WOULD BE THEHARDEST, SADDEST WEEKBATTLING CORONAVIRUS.THOUSANDS OF CASESAND DEATHS.AND THEY WERE RIGHT.BUT, DESPITE THE GRIEFAND HEARTACHE THERE ISHOPE AND HEALINGUNDERWAY.41 ACTION NEWSREPORTER ARIELROTHFIELD SHARES HOWONE GROUP --- ROSEABOVE THE HURT -- TOSHOW US COMPASSION.nat pop sequence of taking offandflying overheadTHEY OFTEN SAY THE SIS THE LIMIT2,100 feet we're just fourmiles to the east or northeastAND FRIDAY'S FLIGHTSHOWED EXACTLY WHYWe're going to go aroundNorth Kansas City hospital.11 PILOTSFROM THE BEECHNUTZAND THE KC FLIGHTFORMATION TEAMHope flight, this is leadCOMING TOGETHERFLYING OVER 14HOSPITALSWe are orbiting Libertyhospital right nowWITH ONE GOAL IN MINDCraig Wilcox/ KC FlightFormationTeamThey can know there is betterdays ahead and enjoy tairplanes flying by and knowwe're all thinking of themTHE MISSION BEGAN WHEN21-YEAR-OLD EVANSHERMER WAHOSPITALIZEDENAMORED WITH AVIATIONSINCE HE WAS A KID,HE'S NOW IN THE I-C-U ONA DIFFERENT JOURNEY.TRYING TO RECOVERFROM COVID-19Rob Shermer/ FatherSeeing the number on thenews of how many peoplewere dying.

We were in areally dark, dark place laweekBUT TODAY, HIS DAD SAYONLY GOOD NEWSEVAN IS NO LONGER ON AVENTILATRob Shermer/ FatherI was down in the kitchemaking coffee and all of thesudden my phone startsringing and it says Evan wantsto Facetime.There he was, without aventilator in his mouth andtalking to me.AND JUST IN TIME FOR THEBIG SHAlright, rolling left around thospital.

Evan Shermer, thisone is for youSO FOR EVAN AND HISFAMILY,OTHER PATIENTS, NURSAND DOCTORSWe are overflying St.

Luke'son the PlazaFOR JUST A COUPLE OFMINUTESINSTEAD OF WORRIESTHERE WERE SMILESGlenn Bowers/ BeechnutTrying to spread some hope,a little joy.

Encourage themAS THOSE IN THE SKYSHOWED THEIRSUPPORSmoke on nowAND HOW IT REALLY ISLIMITLESSREPORTING IN KANSASCITYAlright, rolling out.That's all of them, I'm going tocontinue south a little bit.ARIEL ROTHFIELD.

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