Wings or wheels, we move When Minutes Matter — your 716 gift makes it happen.

Mercy Flight is an independent provider of emergency and non-emergency air and ground medical transportation and supporting services, ensuring rapid, safe and cost-effective delivery of expert emergency response teams. Since 1981, the organization has safely completed more than 30,000 patient air missions and tens of thousands ground ambulance missions. Operations are conducted in Batavia, Buffalo, Hamlin, Niagara County, Olean, Orleans County, and Springville, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and recently added air ambulance resources to cover a 12-hour service period based in Wellsville, NY from Thursday through Sunday of each week.

Why Give to Mercy Flight During Give 716?

1. You never know when you'll need us. Emergencies don’t wait — your gift ensures we're ready when it’s you or your loved one who needs us most.
2. We bring the ER to you. From helicopters to ground ambulances, we’re equipped with state-of-the-art technology to treat critical patients on the move.
3. Highly trained. Deeply committed. Our flight crews and EMTs are among the best — and your support keeps them mission-ready.
4. Not-for-profit, always on call. We perform our lifesaving services without regard to our patients' insurance status or ability to pay.

Shannon Olmstead: A Story of Strength and Hope

On October 23, 2024, newborn Jorah Olmstead entered our world. As it turned out, his birthday marked both the start of his life and an unforgettable journey of resilience for his mother, Shannon.

That day, excited and ready to have her baby, Shannon arrived at her local hospital, but unfortunately things did not go as planned. Complications during labor led to an emergency C-section, and the anesthesia caused an unexpected reaction in Shannon’s body, ultimately leading to aspiration pneumonia. She was treated and released the following day, seemingly in good health, but things took a frightening turn later at home.

Shannon just wasn’t feeling right. She was experiencing continued nausea and intermittent hearing loss, and after checking her own vitals she noticed that her oxygen levels were low and her pulse high. She just knew that something was wrong.

Shannon’s mom drove her to the United Memorial Medical Center (UMMC) ER where she was seen right away. With her BP alarmingly high and breathing labored, doctors initially thought she could have suffered a pulmonary embolism or even a heart attack. Further testing revealed that Shannon had developed severe postpartum preeclampsia, a rare and unpreventable condition that can lead to stroke and organ failure.

The ER doctor’s words were both a relief and a shock: it was a good thing Shannon got to the hospital when she did because, without immediate intervention, things could have been much worse. Shannon would need to be put and put on a ventilator, and she needed to be transferred to Rochester General Hospital (RGH) by Mercy Flight for continued care.

Then the doctor asked Shannon if she wanted to see Jorah once more before she was sedated. That question really hit her: “It occurred to me that I may never see my little boy or husband again. I was terrified.”

After holding her son again for a few more minutes, Shannon was sedated, intubated, and rapidly transferred to RGH in a concerted effort by both Mercy Flight’s air and ground ambulance teams.

Witnessing the calm professionalism of both crews, Shannon’s husband Reed felt an immediate sense of relief. “When I saw how they sprang into action, taking full control of the situation, I knew Shannon was in the best hands possible,” he said. Shannon would spend a week at RGH, two of those days in the ICU, and the rest in the maternity ward, where she was treated until she could return home.

Reflecting on the ordeal, Shannon shared her deep gratitude: “I cannot thank enough the doctors and nurses at UMMC and Rochester General Hospital for the care I received. And to the Mercy Flight teams—the ambulance crew, and the flight crew—thank you for being there when I needed you. I never imagined needing the services of Mercy Flight, especially at a time that should have been one of the happiest moments of my life. But I am so grateful they were there when we needed them most, safely transporting me to RGH.”

Shannon’s story is a reminder that even in the most joyous moments, life can take unexpected turns. Thanks to the collaborative effort and quick actions of the teams at UMMC, RGH, and Mercy Flight, Shannon was able to return to her husband and precious son.

Our Mission

Community medical emergency response mainly by helicopter, fixed wing aircraft and ground transport (ambulance) services. Our mission is to be an independent not-for-profit provider of air and ground medical transport and supporting services, ensuring rapid, safe, and cost-effective delivery of expert emergency response teams.