Very Important Patients

Name: STARS
Price range: $

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It doesn’t matter who you are. It doesn’t matter where you are. If you need critical care, our mission is to be there for you in whatever capacity we can help. Every one of our VIPs — Very Important Patients — has a unique story of how STARS was their best hope in a worst-case scenario. We are honoured to share some of their inspirational stories here.

If you are one of our VIPs and would like to meet your crew or share your story, please email us at vip@stars.ca.

Person wearing glasses and a gray "Wolves" hoodie standing indoors by a railing, smiling at the camera with a bright, modern building interior in the background.

Marie Somerville

Marie Somerville was an aspiring barrel racer, spending countless hours practising and competing. One day when practising for competition, her horse fell, leading her to severe whiplash and trauma to her brainstem and spinal cord. STARS was dispatched to provide critical care and take her to the nearest major hospital.

Person wearing glasses and a red patterned dress standing in front of large windows with a cityscape view in the background.

Brynleigh Yewsuk

When she was only three years old, Brynleigh suffered severe head trauma after a piece of farm equipment fell on her. The STARS crew cared for her en route to a major hospital, where she received the life-saving treatment she needed.

Person in dark jacket standing in front of red aircraft with "STARS" visible on fuselage, with propeller and hangar setting in background.

Owen Ashworth

Since 2013, STARS has been called into Owen’s life twice. The first time was just before he started his final year of high school when he suffered a brain injury in a motorbike accident. The second time was in 2021 when he sustained another brain injury in a collision with a semi-truck.

Person in black hoodie and jeans standing among dried golden grasses with bare trees in the background during autumn or winter season.

Ryan Herchuk

At 12, Ryan Herchuk was hit by a vehicle while riding an all-terrain vehicle. By chance, an off-duty STARS flight paramedic came upon the accident scene. STARS transported Ryan to the University of Alberta Hospital, where he recovered after being in a coma for two months.

Family of four standing at a wooden fence with a brown horse behind them in a rural setting with bare trees and fields in the background.

Maureen Schnirer

After a rural motor vehicle incident left Maureen Schnirer critically injured, STARS transported her to an urban centre for life-saving surgery. She has fully recovered, married her longtime partner Ken, and built a life on a ranch, raising two kids.

Three people in winter clothing standing by a snowy wooden fence with birch trees in the background

Esther and Kaycee Stern

At the time of her accident, Esther Stern was 36 weeks pregnant with her daughter Kaycee. As she came to, Esther’s water broke and she and baby Kaycee were in critical need of medical attention.

Person holding an acoustic guitar wearing a cap and olive jacket, standing in a hangar with red helicopters in the background.

Jacquie Drew

After surviving a motorcycle crash, singer Jacquie Drew wrote "If I Could Fly" to honour STARS and founder Dr. Greg Powell. Inspired by Powell’s legacy, she performed her emotional tribute for the organization, expressing deep gratitude for the lifesaving care she received.

Six people sit on yellow equipment in front of a red STARS helicopter in an indoor hangar during daytime.

Tyler Lister

When a bout with pneumonia took a serious turn, Tyler Lister needed urgent care at specialized hospital. STARS was called, and Tyler's life was saved.

Person in cowboy hat and patterned shirt standing with two horses on a rocky coastal landscape with water and overcast sky

Paula Johnson

A casual horseback ride with friends took a turn when Paula’s mount spooked and she was thrown to the ground. Local crews responded and STARS landed at her remote location, ensuring she quickly had the essential care she needed.

Person standing on a wooden dock by a calm lake with rocky shoreline, evergreen trees, and dramatic cloudy sky in the background.

Wade Cassidy

Wade Cassidy was waist-deep in the water near his lakeside cabin when a massive heart attack struck. “I didn’t have hours,” he recalled. “I had minutes.” As family, friends, and emergency responders rallied to help, STARS launched from more than 200 km away.

Person in black winter gear and helmet sitting on a snowmobile on a frozen lake with bare trees and cloudy sky in background

Theo Konidas

Teenager Theo Konidas was enjoying a snowmobile ride when a patch of ice resulted in a near-fatal crash. His parents performed CPR, local emergency crews arrived, and STARS responded. “I wouldn’t be here without them,” says Theo.

Man in plaid shirt standing in field with hands on hips, heavy equipment and truck visible in background under cloudy sky

Sean Rickards

When Sean Rickards became wedged between a semi-truck and an earthmover, it nearly ended his life, but teamwork and skill by everyone who responded fought numerous odds and gave him the second chance he deserved.

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Very Important Patients