By PAULA HEESCHEN
Pocono Record Writer

EAST STROUDSBURG -Airlift helicopter staff members helped save a kidney patient's life Saturday as she prepared to travel to Pittsburgh for a transplant.

Lehigh Valley Hospital Medevac II flight paramedic Ray Pagenhardt and flight nurse Barry Mitchneck pitched in Saturday afternoon when Donna Strouse of East Stroudsburg needed help entering a plane that would take her to the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Time was of the essence, as Strouse had just received word of a donor kidney. She had been waiting three years for an organ.

"I called Air Lifeline in California," Howard Kindred Sr. of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Transplant Support Group said. "They have volunteer pilots to get patients to their transplant." Pilot Gary Eelnan of Pipersville arrived promptly at the Stroudsburg Pocono Airport. But Strouse was so weak and had taken on so much water from her failing kidneys that she could not climb into the plane even with Kindred and Eelnan's help. Medevac staff took over. "They know how to move people," Kindred said. "Without them I don't know what we would have done."

Strouse arrived safely in Pittsburgh, went into surgery at 4 a.m. Sunday and left the operating room at about 2:30 p.m. that day. She is in stable condition. Strouse's transplant served as a heartwarming and timely event, Kindred said. Last week the Monroe County Commissioners passed a resolution declaring this week, June 11 through 17, "Transplant Candidate, Recipient and Donor Family Week" in Monroe County. The resolution commends the transplant support group for its support and education efforts. "It's such a good feeling," Kindred said, "when you can help someone."

This story appeared on page B-2, Tuesday, June 13, 2000 in the Pocono Record.