Medical commander 2Xs an angel in friendly skies

Published Dec. 21, 2012
By Tech. Sgt. Peter Dean
920th Rescue Wing Public Affairs

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The Grim Reaper can come knocking at anytime and anyplace, thankfully for two passengers the Reaper was kept at bay by the 920th Aeromedical Staging Squadron Commander, Col. (Dr.) Lewis D. Neace. Recently Neace, who resides in Portland, Ore., and travels to the 920th Rescue Wing, Patrick Air Force Base, Fla., to perform his Air Force Reserve duty, found himself in not one, but two lifesaving situations.

Enroute to perform his drill weekend with the 920th RQW here, Neace had his drink in hand, book opened and settled in for what he expected to be an uneventful flight. Little did he know, that would all change. About an hour after takeoff, a call came over the intercom asking if there were any medical personnel on board.

"I looked around and clear in the back I see some people clustered around the aft galley," Neace said. "I went back and sure enough there was a guy flat on the floor."

Although Neace wasn't the only medical person flying the friendly skies that day, he was the one that took responsibility and administered the necessary medical treatment.

"There were actually two physicians back there, I introduced myself as an emergency room doctor and the one guy said 'I'm an obstetrician, I'm out of here' the other one said 'I'm an oncologist, I'm out of here too' and like boom these guys disappeared," Neace said.

Statistics show that the odds are favorable that most airplane flights will be uneventful, but not for the good doctor. He found himself in a similar situation just a few days later on his return flight to Portland.

"I noticed a little commotion behind me, I turn around and this elderly fellow is gasping for air," Neace said. "I thought oh great ... he looked bad."

The elderly gentleman suffers from Pulmonary Fibrosis, a lung disease that interferes with a person's ability to breathe. This combined with the altitude, dehydration and his personal oxygen tank in stow, led to a dire situation.

"His oxygen level was down around 70, normal is mid to upper 90s," Neace said. "It was not good."

At Neace's request, a flight attendant brought over an oxygen tank, which seemed to work for a short time.

"His (oxygen levels) started looking better but then they started to drop again," Neace said.

The initial oxygen bottle that the airline attendant supplied was defective and a new one was needed stat.

"His oxygen level was declining and the oxygen bag was not inflated," Neace stated to the airline attendant. "We need another bottle or tell the pilot to divert to the closet airport."

Fortunately another oxygen bottle was available and the patient's oxygen level stabilized and he was able to make it all the way to Portland.

"I was glad I was able to help, and the patient and his wife were a fun couple," Neace said. "She was a rocket scientist; she designed rocket fuel and retired from Red Stone Arsenal, she has patents on the Patriot Missile. I forgot to ask what he did."

Colonel Neace recently received a thank you note from the couple and plans on sending them a 920th RQW patch.

Next time when boarding a commercial plane, look around, if Neace is present, rest assure the Reaper will book the next flight.

Neace is a full time ER doctor at the Legacy Good Samaritan Hospital in Portland.

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