Look Up! Crossroads Patient Soars on “Gift of a Day”

Fred Marschel never felt more alive than when he was soaring through the air in his plane. For over 25 years he worked with the Lee’s Summit Airport near Kansas City, eventually serving as Air National Commissioner. Along with his pilot friends, Marschel was a regular at the world’s largest international Fly In Convention in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Unfortunately, the 91-year-old patient’s health has kept him grounded for years. Still looking to the sky and thinking back to his days among the clouds, Marschel made it clear how he would choose to spend the perfect day: in the air.

To give Marschel the “Gift of a Day,” his care team in Kansas City worked closely with his daughter and pilot friends at the Lee’s Summit Airport to arrange a private flight over his hometown. A full crew of well-wishers, family, pilots and Crossroads staff joined him in the hangar to see him off. When they got word of the special day, four news stations sent cameras to capture the flight to remember.

On this “Gift of Day,” everyone’s spirits soared.

To see more from this special day, check out the footage from Kansas City’s KSHB 41 and FOX 4.  

The Crossroads Hospice Gift of a Day program gives patients one special day celebrating what they love. Learn more by visiting our website or call us at 888-564-3405.

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