The Tarver Family

Juneau, Alaska

Karen Tarver left work early one day during the 28th week of her pregnancy. She thought she had the flu. After resting a while, she felt an overwhelming urge to pay bills and catch up with other paperwork, which she did before going to bed. In the middle of the night, she awoke when her water broke. That evening she had read about premature births in her book on pregnancy and knew this could mean trouble. Her husband Jason, a Juneau fire fighter, was on duty that night. They quickly met up at the hospital where doctors decided Karen should be airlifted to Seattle. Jason was by her side, along with two Airlift Northwest nurses with whom he frequently worked. “Once they were with me, I was never alone,” Karen said. Daughter Keanna was born later that day and spent 70 days in the hospital before she could go home. Karen is grateful to her flight nurses. “They gave us a cute little Airlift Northwest T-shirt for Keanna,” she said. “We run into the crew around town, and they always ask how she’s doing.”

From Bartlett Regional Hospital (Juneau, AK) to Swedish Medical Center (Seattle, WA)