EveryStep Helps Pilot Take Flight Again to Celebrate His 90th Birthday

“The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease for ever to be able to do it,” J.M. Barrie wrote in Peter Pan, the classic children’s tale of the boy who refuses to grow up. Last month, EveryStep staff was on hand to witness the healing power of flight for a patient and his family.

John Hannahs has spent much of his life with his head in the clouds – literally.  As a young man, Hannahs served proudly in the US Navy aboard the USS Randolph.  John worked in avionics aboard the Randolph, keeping aircraft flight-ready while serving on active duty i in the waters off the Middle East.

After retiring from the service, John got his first set of wings.  “He got his pilot's license and flew for many years,” John’s daughter Hannah recalls, “Because he traveled for his work, he used it to commute.  We also would get the added benefit of taking family trips on the plane, too.”

That perk led the family to adventures most kids could only dream of.

“We lived in Houston and we would fly to a secluded beach called Matagorda.  From what I can recall, the beach only appeared when the tide was out.,” Heather remembers, “There must have been a military base there at some point, because there was an airstrip.  We would spend the day at the beach and then fly home or on to Mexico.

“It seemed like it was like this deserted place; you’d only occasionally see other people,” she says, but that seclusion wasn’t always so welcome.  “I can remember there being a windstorm once and the plane’s wheels ended up getting buried in sand and we had to dig it out.  Then we’d have a campfire and great food and good times – fun, good times.”

But eventually the years caught up with John.  He retired at age 50 and later sold off his plane in the 1990s.  John was grounded; but as it turns out, it was only temporary.

When John entered hospice care with EveryStep, Heather says she was asked if there was anything special they could do for him.   “I thought it would be really cool to take a day and just fly around, she says. “So, I sat on it for a while and then thought it would be incredible to do this for his 90th birthday.”

“Everybody at EveryStep was so wonderful and supporting,” she says, “I reached out to (Hospice Team Director) Anna and she said she had friends who were firefighters who could help because I was worried about his mobility.  She made it all sound so possible!”

Everything was all set for the big day, then a mechanical issue caused Heather’s pilot to cancel just 24 hours beforehand.  But she wouldn’t let that stop her.

“I can’t give up because I’ve got people depending on this and it’s his 90th birthday,” she says, “But we found another aviation company that said yes.  It was amazing, affordable, accommodating, and it just really worked out great.”

John’s family kept the flight a secret until they arrived at Ames Airport on the big day.  After learning he was going back to the skies after decades on the ground, he had only one question: “Is it a Cessna?” - like the model he used to fly.  To his delight, it was indeed a Cessna.

EveryStep staff were on hand at the airport to make sure everything went as smooth as possible.  Thankfully, a firefighter’s assist wasn’t needed as John’s family showed the strength of their love.  

“My husband and son helped lift him into the plane and I was like: ‘Oh my God, this is incredible; family coming together and celebrating,” Heather says.  “My sister was there in spirit, but my brother who lives in Illinois came back to town for it.  His birthday was (two days later) and he went up with Dad, and it was so healing for him.   Their relation had been estranged for many, many years.  But they’ve aged and it was reconciling.”

For about an hour, John, his son, and a pilot cruised the blue skies above Ames on a beautiful clear day.  When they touched down again, the thrill of the ride was evident on John’s face.  Decades disappeared as a boyish grin stretched from ear to ear as John sat in his co-pilot seat absolutely glowing.

Heather soon learned the reason behind the smile. As it turns out, John had been more than just a passenger on the flight.

“I watched the video that my brother took from the back seat and the pilot actually let Dad fly!” she says, “When you look at the video, you can see a confidence take over – like he’d done this whole life.  He was just comfortable and confident – it was really neat to see that.”

But, she says, when she tried to get him to open up about it afterward, John played it cool.  “Oh, well ... just another day in the plane.  He didn't really go: ‘Wow, that was amazing!” she says, “He was just like, I flew a plane and it was neat.  Oh well.”  

But the look on John’s face told another story.  And for that, Heather says she will be eternally thankful.  “Now that I’m rethinking about it, it was absolutely perfect,” she says, “It certainly was a highlight of my life.”