A Bond of Trust
June 30, 2025
An Illinois paramedic credits his strong relationship with an AEL base and crew for saving the life of his special needs son.
There are a few things that Matt MacDonald is passionate about to the degree that he would fight “tooth and nail” for and one of them is his family.
MacDonald, a lieutenant and critical care paramedic with the Charleston Fire Department in Illinois, is also the proud father of six-year-old Tegan, a special needs child. MacDonald and his wife, Alissa, adopted Tegan when he was 18-months old, after initially serving as his foster parents when he left the neonatal intensive care unit.
“Prior to serving today as a nurse practitioner at St. Louis Children's Hospital in Missouri, my wife was on the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) resuscitation team when Tegan was born and took care of him in the small baby unit for three months,” said MacDonald. “We had long had a heart for being foster parents, but the system was so hard to get in, and then when Tegan came, we felt strongly that we needed to be the ones who cared for him, especially with all that he’s had to face in his young life.”
Tegan was born with 29 medical diagnoses in addition to two rare genetic disorders. The child’s health issues require 24/7 attention, something that MacDonald and his wife are both familiar with given their work in the health industry, which, in itself, is a 24/7 line of business. The couple’s extensive medical background equipped them with an additional layer of understanding of the importance of having a skilled team of EMS professionals ready to support them at a moment’s notice when, not if, Tegan suffers a clinical crisis.
In MacDonald’s case, that “skilled team of EMS professionals” turned out to be members of Air Evac Lifeteam (AEL) 145 in Mattoon: Program Manager Megan Kelly, Flight Nurse Kelly Hamill, Flight Paramedic Jason Cronk and Flight Nurse Christina Philpott. This team of first responders would come to Tegan’s rescue in a way that MacDonald and his wife would not soon forget.
“A certified nurse’s assistant (CNA), who watches Tegan when Alissa and I can’t, recognized signs of respiratory distress and called Alissa, who was out for a run,” recalled MacDonald. “I was in the driveway working on the mower, when Alissa ran past me and yelled ‘Tegan,’ and that was enough for me to know something serious was happening.”
MacDonald went back into the house and found Tegan in distress and respiratory failure. He then, gave the child emergency medicine and put him on his “high flo,” (High Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC) respiratory therapy device and oxygen.
“After we did everything we could, we knew it was time to get more help,” said MacDonald, who then called Flight Nurse Kelly Hamill, who had developed a strong working relationship with MacDonald and his family, stemming from Tegan’s condition.
“I called Kelly and asked if 145 was flyable when she told me it was down for maintenance,” said MacDonald. “I then called 911; Mattoon Fire put AEL 145 on standby anyway. Then, Kelly contacted AEL Program Manager Megan Kelly and told her what was going on. Kelly also called AEL 182 from Decatur to fly to Mattoon (145’s base). Megan also made multiple phone calls to administrators, trying to get permission for the crew of 145 to switch places with 182’s crew, so Kelly and Flight Paramedic Jason Cronk, who both had a deep understanding of Tegan’s ongoing health needs, could take 182 to fly Tegan to St. Louis Children's Hospital.”
MacDonald says it was really important to his family that the crew of 145 would be the ones to care for Tegan on his way to the hospital. That’s because the 145 crew had created a series of in-depth protocols and procedures, specifically designed to deal with Tegan’s condition and the emergencies he could face. These protocols ensured that all three of AEL’s Mattoon area aircraft were configured and furnished with equipment that could serve respiratory-compromised, pediatric patients, particularly those who have special and rare conditions like Tegan.
MacDonald says it was those protocols that helped the back-and-forth communications between him and Kelly to go smoothly while the family was on its way to the AEL base.
“While in the ambulance on the way to the Mattoon base, I called Kelly to let her know what was going on from the ambulance; she made suggestions as well and kept track of how Tegan was doing, so she could prepare to take over care once we got to the helipad,” said MacDonald. “Flight Nurse Christina [Philpott] came in early and was also at the base, and when she heard Tegan was coming in, she changed into her flight suit, so she could also help out.”
Then, once the ambulance arrived at the helipad, Kelly, Jason and Christina went into the ambulance and began to take care of Tegan.
“There we all were in the back of the ambulance: Christina, Jason, Kelly and me and my wife, all trying to stabilize Tegan,” said MacDonald. “Kelly used the vent to put him on BiPAP [device that helps patients breathe better] while giving him medicine, and Christina asked what his favorite song was and then began holding his hand and singing to him.”
Not too much later, the crew with AEL 182 arrived and opened the back doors of the ambulance. When they started taking the patient report, MacDonald asked Kelly if she and Jason could take the call, given their relationship with Tegan. Surprisingly, both teams, AEL 182 and AEL 145, agreed.
“This is a big deal; you have no idea what level of agreement, permissions have to happen for two sets of crew members to agree on switching places,” said MacDonald. “So, for this to happen within seconds meant that everyone involved put their pride aside and focused entirely on what was best for Tegan, and that was putting him in the hands of those who were most familiar with his needs. Christina was also a trooper; 182 needed fuel for the flight, so Christina got out of the ambulance to fuel up 182 to expedite Tegan’s flight to the hospital. Tegan was transferred to 182, and Kelly and Jason cared for him on his medical transport to St. Louis.”
MacDonald says he can’t express the comfort he felt during that ordeal, knowing that Kelly and Jason were caring for his son.
“These guys are like family to me; Kelly would update me on everything during Tegan’s flight,” said MacDonald. “You can imagine the emotions that she was feeling. She had been there from the start, caring for Tegan, so if he was dying, it’s on her watch. That’s why she wanted to be the one to care for him; it was extremely important to her to be with him all the way, regardless of the end result.”
And the care for Tegan didn’t stop after the crew arrived at the hospital. Kelly and Jason remained at the ER by Tegan’s bedside until MacDonald’s wife arrived. Tegan ultimately survived that crisis and today is doing better. Although he still faces respiratory issues, nothing so far has led to the family taking an air medical flight like they did last November. But the experience is still fresh in MacDonald’s mind. He stands firm that Tegan’s favorable outcome that day was largely due to the protocols that were put into place. Today, MacDonald is a fervent advocate of such procedures, encouraging the lessons learned by his family and AEL 145 in Mattoon to be used as training for other EMS operations, ground and air.
“When I started getting to know Megan and her team, we talked heavily about the needs Tegan was facing and how we could address those specialized needs in a more customized way,” said MacDonald. “We ended up doing mock flights, developing specific protocols and plans and eventually trainings, so that everyone at AEL Mattoon would know what to do in the event of an emergency involving Tegan or any other special needs child. I believe all EMS operations and bases could learn valuable insights from my family’s situation. If operations and bases could take the time and really get to know their community and understand the medical and health conditions their people are facing, they too could create tailor-made plans based on their community’s needs.”
MacDonald also adds that it’s not just the good protocols and plans alone that made Tegan’s experience successful. He says the deep friendship and relationship that evolved between his family and the AEL 145 crew as a result of the discussions on Tegan’s needs played a significant role in Tegan’s November outcome.
“I can sleep better now knowing my son will be provided the best care possible, all because of the close bond of trust I have with AEL 145,” said MacDonald. “I know I can depend on them in times of emergencies, and that is invaluable. That’s what EMS is all about: reliability and excellence in patient care. These guys are my people. AEL 145 is great.”
MacDonald, a lieutenant and critical care paramedic with the Charleston Fire Department in Illinois, is also the proud father of six-year-old Tegan, a special needs child. MacDonald and his wife, Alissa, adopted Tegan when he was 18-months old, after initially serving as his foster parents when he left the neonatal intensive care unit.
“Prior to serving today as a nurse practitioner at St. Louis Children's Hospital in Missouri, my wife was on the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) resuscitation team when Tegan was born and took care of him in the small baby unit for three months,” said MacDonald. “We had long had a heart for being foster parents, but the system was so hard to get in, and then when Tegan came, we felt strongly that we needed to be the ones who cared for him, especially with all that he’s had to face in his young life.”
Tegan was born with 29 medical diagnoses in addition to two rare genetic disorders. The child’s health issues require 24/7 attention, something that MacDonald and his wife are both familiar with given their work in the health industry, which, in itself, is a 24/7 line of business. The couple’s extensive medical background equipped them with an additional layer of understanding of the importance of having a skilled team of EMS professionals ready to support them at a moment’s notice when, not if, Tegan suffers a clinical crisis.
In MacDonald’s case, that “skilled team of EMS professionals” turned out to be members of Air Evac Lifeteam (AEL) 145 in Mattoon: Program Manager Megan Kelly, Flight Nurse Kelly Hamill, Flight Paramedic Jason Cronk and Flight Nurse Christina Philpott. This team of first responders would come to Tegan’s rescue in a way that MacDonald and his wife would not soon forget.
“A certified nurse’s assistant (CNA), who watches Tegan when Alissa and I can’t, recognized signs of respiratory distress and called Alissa, who was out for a run,” recalled MacDonald. “I was in the driveway working on the mower, when Alissa ran past me and yelled ‘Tegan,’ and that was enough for me to know something serious was happening.”
MacDonald went back into the house and found Tegan in distress and respiratory failure. He then, gave the child emergency medicine and put him on his “high flo,” (High Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC) respiratory therapy device and oxygen.
“After we did everything we could, we knew it was time to get more help,” said MacDonald, who then called Flight Nurse Kelly Hamill, who had developed a strong working relationship with MacDonald and his family, stemming from Tegan’s condition.
“I called Kelly and asked if 145 was flyable when she told me it was down for maintenance,” said MacDonald. “I then called 911; Mattoon Fire put AEL 145 on standby anyway. Then, Kelly contacted AEL Program Manager Megan Kelly and told her what was going on. Kelly also called AEL 182 from Decatur to fly to Mattoon (145’s base). Megan also made multiple phone calls to administrators, trying to get permission for the crew of 145 to switch places with 182’s crew, so Kelly and Flight Paramedic Jason Cronk, who both had a deep understanding of Tegan’s ongoing health needs, could take 182 to fly Tegan to St. Louis Children's Hospital.”
MacDonald says it was really important to his family that the crew of 145 would be the ones to care for Tegan on his way to the hospital. That’s because the 145 crew had created a series of in-depth protocols and procedures, specifically designed to deal with Tegan’s condition and the emergencies he could face. These protocols ensured that all three of AEL’s Mattoon area aircraft were configured and furnished with equipment that could serve respiratory-compromised, pediatric patients, particularly those who have special and rare conditions like Tegan.
MacDonald says it was those protocols that helped the back-and-forth communications between him and Kelly to go smoothly while the family was on its way to the AEL base.
“While in the ambulance on the way to the Mattoon base, I called Kelly to let her know what was going on from the ambulance; she made suggestions as well and kept track of how Tegan was doing, so she could prepare to take over care once we got to the helipad,” said MacDonald. “Flight Nurse Christina [Philpott] came in early and was also at the base, and when she heard Tegan was coming in, she changed into her flight suit, so she could also help out.”
Then, once the ambulance arrived at the helipad, Kelly, Jason and Christina went into the ambulance and began to take care of Tegan.
“There we all were in the back of the ambulance: Christina, Jason, Kelly and me and my wife, all trying to stabilize Tegan,” said MacDonald. “Kelly used the vent to put him on BiPAP [device that helps patients breathe better] while giving him medicine, and Christina asked what his favorite song was and then began holding his hand and singing to him.”
Not too much later, the crew with AEL 182 arrived and opened the back doors of the ambulance. When they started taking the patient report, MacDonald asked Kelly if she and Jason could take the call, given their relationship with Tegan. Surprisingly, both teams, AEL 182 and AEL 145, agreed.
“This is a big deal; you have no idea what level of agreement, permissions have to happen for two sets of crew members to agree on switching places,” said MacDonald. “So, for this to happen within seconds meant that everyone involved put their pride aside and focused entirely on what was best for Tegan, and that was putting him in the hands of those who were most familiar with his needs. Christina was also a trooper; 182 needed fuel for the flight, so Christina got out of the ambulance to fuel up 182 to expedite Tegan’s flight to the hospital. Tegan was transferred to 182, and Kelly and Jason cared for him on his medical transport to St. Louis.”
MacDonald says he can’t express the comfort he felt during that ordeal, knowing that Kelly and Jason were caring for his son.
“These guys are like family to me; Kelly would update me on everything during Tegan’s flight,” said MacDonald. “You can imagine the emotions that she was feeling. She had been there from the start, caring for Tegan, so if he was dying, it’s on her watch. That’s why she wanted to be the one to care for him; it was extremely important to her to be with him all the way, regardless of the end result.”
And the care for Tegan didn’t stop after the crew arrived at the hospital. Kelly and Jason remained at the ER by Tegan’s bedside until MacDonald’s wife arrived. Tegan ultimately survived that crisis and today is doing better. Although he still faces respiratory issues, nothing so far has led to the family taking an air medical flight like they did last November. But the experience is still fresh in MacDonald’s mind. He stands firm that Tegan’s favorable outcome that day was largely due to the protocols that were put into place. Today, MacDonald is a fervent advocate of such procedures, encouraging the lessons learned by his family and AEL 145 in Mattoon to be used as training for other EMS operations, ground and air.
“When I started getting to know Megan and her team, we talked heavily about the needs Tegan was facing and how we could address those specialized needs in a more customized way,” said MacDonald. “We ended up doing mock flights, developing specific protocols and plans and eventually trainings, so that everyone at AEL Mattoon would know what to do in the event of an emergency involving Tegan or any other special needs child. I believe all EMS operations and bases could learn valuable insights from my family’s situation. If operations and bases could take the time and really get to know their community and understand the medical and health conditions their people are facing, they too could create tailor-made plans based on their community’s needs.”
MacDonald also adds that it’s not just the good protocols and plans alone that made Tegan’s experience successful. He says the deep friendship and relationship that evolved between his family and the AEL 145 crew as a result of the discussions on Tegan’s needs played a significant role in Tegan’s November outcome.
“I can sleep better now knowing my son will be provided the best care possible, all because of the close bond of trust I have with AEL 145,” said MacDonald. “I know I can depend on them in times of emergencies, and that is invaluable. That’s what EMS is all about: reliability and excellence in patient care. These guys are my people. AEL 145 is great.”
