Helicopter Prayers

Emergencies happen every day to people of all walks of life. It could be a choking incident, car accident, severe allergic reaction, seizures or one of a whole host of problems. Prompt responses can be the difference between life and death.

We are in the middle of the flight path connecting the hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, with our local hospital. Any time they need to airlift a patient and send him or her west, the helicopter will begin its descent shortly before it passes over our home. When the boys were small, they were always excited to see the helicopters flying over. We would go out on the driveway and look up to watch the helicopter fly in. Then we would come back out and watch when the helicopter flew back out. We would discuss the color of the chopper, the call sign painted on its body and the parts of the machine we could identify. We never discussed why the helicopter was coming in or who might be on it as it left.

A good friend of mine told us the story of her daughter's illness. One Sunday, her daughter became extremely ill. She ran a high fever and seizured. Before long, arrangements were made to airlift her to a larger hospital in the metro area. Her parents started out by car. They prayed the rosary over and over.

I cannot imagine the feeling of fear, of loss of control, of uncertainty while they made that drive. She said from then on she always prayed a simple series of prayers when she heard the sirens or saw the flashing strobe lights of rescue vehicles. Since then, when we see a helicopter flying over, we pray an Our Father, a Hail Mary and a Glory Be for all those involved in whatever incident has caused them to come together at this time and this place. We pray for the person who is injured, for their family and friends, and for the pilot and the flight crew, who never set out that morning with the hope or desire to experience a helicopter ride up close and personal

Tonight, we watched the helicopter touch lightly down on the tarmac near the emergency department. Together, Dave and I prayed for the person who would be leaving the warm security of our small town to fly out to Sioux Falls and all those who were aiding in the person's care.


Lord, please be with those who need you most, especially those who needed additional medical assistance today. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.