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Pinnacle: Simply the Best......

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Rez O. Lewshun

Save the Profession
Joined
Jan 19, 2004
Posts
13,422
Pinnacle did not have a spare aircraft that could be used for the urgent trip





FedEx Helps Out Pinnacle Pilot Family Member in Need

Friday the 13th may be considered an “unlucky” day for some, but for little Grace Patterson, Friday, February 13, turned out to be the first day of the rest of her life when she received the call about her long-awaited liver transplant.
At 13 days old, Gracie, the daughter of Memphis-based Pinnacle Airlines Capt. David Patterson and his wife, Rachel, was diagnosed with Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD), a life-long, and potentially life-threatening metabolic disease that inhibits the breakdown of three of the amino acids in protein.
Gracie’s diagnosis led the Pattersons to the University of Pittsburgh Hospital, a renowned transplant and MSUD research facility. Dave and Rachel were able to control Gracie’s response to the disease by monitoring her amino acid levels and keeping her on a very restricted diet. While there is no cure for this genetic condition, the Pattersons were told a liver transplant would cure Gracie of the metabolic condition related to her disease and give her the best chance at a normal life without the life-altering risks associated with MSUD.
On Friday, February 13, at 3:40 p.m. (ET) in the middle of a trip, Capt. Patterson received a message from his wife that a compatible liver had been found, and the long-awaited liver transplant was immediately scheduled. From Oakland, Tennessee, Rachel and Grace, now 2, had only four and a half hours to get to the doors of Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Calling on his resources at Pinnacle, Capt. Patterson soon realized that Pinnacle’s commercial flights out of Memphis and into Pittsburgh would not meet their immediate needs, and Pinnacle did not have a spare aircraft that could be used for the urgent trip. Capt. Patterson then called Carl Evans, managing director of the Corporate Aviation Division of FedEx, with whom he had spoken earlier that week to discuss his time-sensitive need for air travel from Memphis to Pittsburgh. In the time it took Rachel and Grace to arrive at the FedEx corporate hangar, Evans had arranged everything, including transportation from PIT airport to the hospital. Due to Evans’s quick response and consummate professionalism, Grace made it to the hospital within the time required.

Gracie is in recovery at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, a recovery that will be long and arduous for a 2-year-old. Dave, Rachel, and older brother Noah are confident, because of their faith and the doctors who are treating Grace, that she will have the best possible outcome.
The Pinnacle pilots held a fund-raising golf outing in Memphis last year to raise money for the transplant and associated expenses. To make a donation, visit: www.transplantfund.org, type Patterson in the Find a Patient Website box on the left, then select Grace Patterson (where you’ll see her photo) and click on the Contribute Now link at the bottom.
“Thank you for the prayers and support that we have received from so many of you in the past, and now,” Capt. Patterson said. “Gracie is doing great and the doctors expect her new liver to function perfectly.” To chronicle Gracie’s journey, visit www.caringbridge.org/visit/gracepatterson.
 
Is this meant to be a good story or a bash on Pinnacle?

Probably both, with a bit of praising of FedEx to high heaven thrown in for good measure.
 
Pinnacle did nothing wrong.

Idiotic post Rez O. Lewshun, the market just went below 7200. Another round of furloughs are coming for some airlines... what was the point of this post?

Kudos to FedEx, but this is not a reason to bash.
 
Yes exacltly. One is wildly profitable and the other is trying to survive.

Shame on you REZOLEWSHUN.

Kudos to FEDEX Cororate.

I could be mistaken, but when www. says it is a difference in corporate culture, he is probably referring to the way employees are treated differently by management. Fed Ex being of a different culture, went out of their way for somebody who is not even an employee at their company. Pinnacle on the other hand...well...read the article...

Maybe he will clarify.
 
I think it's a wonderful story, regardless of who did the flying. Apparently pilots are only capable of comprehending the aviation side of the story, and completely gloss over the fact that a little girl will now live.

It's nice to see some good news on here for a change.
 
Yes exacltly. One is wildly profitable and the other is trying to survive.

Shame on you REZOLEWSHUN.

Kudos to FEDEX Cororate.

True- but why can't they survive with comparable work rules and pay along side ASA? Not flaming, but seriously, why not? We're doing ok with what we've got.
 

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