Young, healthy, and enjoying a summer getaway, Maggie and her then boyfriend, Sean, were vacationing in Nantucket with friends in the summer of 2024 when their lives changed in an instant.
What began as an ordinary night out quickly turned into an ordeal neither of them could have imagined when Maggie suddenly began experiencing unusual abdominal pain—something they initially didn’t think much of.
“Then all of a sudden it felt like something was really wrong, and it just kept getting worse and worse,” Maggie recalled. “Sean said, ‘We need to call 9-1-1.’”
Soon after, they arrived at the emergency room at Nantucket Cottage Hospital, where Maggie was admitted and doctors initially diagnosed her with an abdominal hemorrhage. But as the hours passed, Maggie’s condition continued to worsen. It became clear she needed a higher level of care immediately.
“They told us she was septic and that they needed to get Maggie to Boston fast,” Sean said.
As dawn broke over Nantucket—what Sean remembers as a beautiful sunrise during such a scary time—the sound of a Boston MedFlight helicopter cut through the quiet morning.
The team carefully loaded Maggie onto a stretcher and transported her and Sean to Massachusetts General Hospital, where a team was standing by to take Maggie into immediate surgery.
“I’ll never forget that night—and I’ll never forget the heroes who made sure Maggie got the care she needed,” Sean said. “Boston MedFlight is an unbelievable organization.”
Now, over a year later, not only is Maggie recovered but thriving, planning her wedding, and ready to support her now fiancé as he laces up his running shoes for Boston MedFlight’s 2026 Boston Marathon team.
“It goes without saying how grateful I am—and how different my life would be if Boston MedFlight wasn’t there, ready to respond at a moment’s notice,” said Sean.
Recently, Maggie and Sean visited Boston MedFlight’s headquarters in Bedford, where they saw—under far better circumstances—the equipment that helped save Maggie’s life.
“You can’t help but feel emotional when you see it,” Maggie said. “I don’t remember much from the last time I was in one of these helicopters, but being here today feels very meaningful, and healing, and full circle.”
Stories like Maggie’s are a reminder of why our mission matters. Every flight, every call, every moment is about making sure patients can access lifesaving care—no matter where they are. We are honored to be part of Maggie and Sean’s story and grateful for Sean’s support in raising critical funds to help ensure we can be there for the next patient who needs us.
