Joint team helps save 2-year-old boy in Pacific

Published May 14, 2007
By Lt. Col. Toni Kemper
13th Air Force Public Affairs

HICKAM AIR FORCE BASE, Hawaii -- When Airmen from the 13th Air Force's Theater Patient Movement Requirements Center here received a request in early May from a Saipan pediatrician requesting critical assistance for a 2 year old suffering from pneumonia with subsequent organ system failure, unit members understood time was critical to save the child.

John Terorio was struggling for life, so the administrative portion of the requirement was quickly validated and a validating flight surgeon approved the urgent, priority move.

The requirement was then forwarded to the 613th Air and Space Operations Center's Aeromedical Evacuation Control Team to task available aircrew and aircraft to support the mission. The TPMRC also contacted the Pacific Regional Medical Command's Tripler Army Medical Center to support the mission with a pediatric care team and medical supplies.

Within 36 hours, Lt. Col. Lynda Vu, a 13th Air Force validating surgeon, along with an aeromedical evacuation team from Det. 1, 18th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, with Reserve augmentation from March Air Reserve Base, Calif., and C-17 Globemaster III crew from the 535th Airlift Squadron at Hickam Air Force Base departed on the eight-hour flight to Saipan. The team was met in Saipan by a pediatrician and ambulance.

The critical care team stabilized the patient and were en route back to Hawaii within three hours. After touching down in Hawaii, the Hickam AFB Fire Emergency Services transported John to Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children in Honolulu. Since his ordeal began in early May, John has been taken off the ventilator and has regained his organ functions.

"These types of missions are extremely rewarding," Colonel Vu said. "The TPMRC is a joint and total team of active-duty and Reserve Airmen, Soldiers and Sailors. We validate patient movement requirements for the Pacific theater, determine level of care and coordinate reception requirements at the sending and receiving destinations. A lot of different organizations are involved in saving military and civilian lives throughout the region."

"I have traveled around the world and performed many different types of missions," said Maj. Matthew Zehr, the C-17 aircraft commander for the mission. "However, when I can have a direct impact on someone's life by flying a medevac flight, I truly find those missions the most rewarding."

Covering approximately 150 million square miles, unit Airmen provide urgent and routine aeromedical evacuation of military members and humanitarian assistance to third country nationals to save life or limb. The TPMRC coordinates approximately 460 patient movements annually.