VIP Kelly Waldron poses for a photo next to the C-GKLY call letters that were assigned in her honour. Photo shot on Thursday, April 18, 2019 during a public unveiling event (Photo by Lyle Aspinall, courtesy STARS)

By Justin Goulet

STARS honours Lethbridge resident, its first-ever VIP

Oct 12, 2019 | 8:00 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A Lethbridge resident has been celebrated by STARS Air Ambulance.

Earlier this year, the first of STARS’ new fleet of helicopters landed in Calgary. On-board were a number of special guests, including the service’s first-ever Very Important Patient (VIP).

Kelly Waldron, a Lethbridge resident, arrived in an H145 helicopter that marks her place in STARS history, bearing the official registration mark of “C-GKLY” – a link to her first name.

The helicopter is one of two new aircraft in STARS’ fleet.

STARS president and CEO Andrea Robertson said at the April event that the day was about “bringing us (STARS) one step closer to making our fleet renewal program a reality.”

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“It is also about paying tribute to the aircraft that have served critically ill and injured patients across Western Canada for 34 years. We are told the lives we help save and the time we give patients and their families makes a difference.”

On December 1, 1985, Waldron was born at a Lethbridge hospital with her twin brother Travis. The two were born two months prematurely. Travis was flown by a fixed-wing airplane to what was then known as the Foothills Hospital (now the Foothills Medical Centre) in Calgary.

Kelly was picked up by a STARS aircraft. The service had just been established.

They noted that Waldron’s mother was told her children would not survive. The twins both did and STARS has continued to succeed over the last 34 years.

STARS is currently replacing its BK117 helicopters. Below is a video, courtesy of STARS, which shows founder Dr. Greg Powell and his wife Linda delivering the dedication news to Kelly Waldron.

“I don’t feel like I deserve [this],” she said.

“I’m so happy I got to know both of you. You’ll always be in my family.”