When James W. McMeen woke up the morning of February 9th, his stomach hurt and he felt a bit nauseous. He told his wife he wasn’t feeling well. At first they thought it was a touch of the flu. But as he got up and began to move around, Mr. McMeen began to feel worse.

“When I put my hand on his stomach,” says his wife, Marion. “I felt a lump and a pulsing heartbeat. That isn’t right, I thought.” She called her daughter and they decided to call 911. Mercy Flights showed up at the McMeen’s house within minutes.

“They were very professional,” says Mrs. McMeen. “They took his vitals and quickly loaded him into the ambulance to take him to the hospital.” Lucky for Mr. McMeen, his family’s quick response saved his life. He had an abdominal aneurysm, which is a bulge in the abdominal aorta that can rupture – a life-threatening situation.

The McMeens have been Mercy Flights members for years, but didn’t ever think they would have to use it. Thanks to their membership, they saved significant money on Mr. McMeen’s ambulance transport.

The Mercy Flights emergency team rushed Mr. McMeen to Rogue Valley Medical Center. The surgeons repaired his aorta in a four-hour procedure with excellent results. He was able to return home a couple of days later. “He’s up and around now,” says Mrs. McMeen. “He’s feeling a lot better. Everyone at Mercy Flights and the hospital are great. We really appreciate the great care.”