By ROCHELLE MOORE
The Wilson Daily Times

July 9, 2003 Source: AP - AP Wire Service

WILSON, N.C. (AP) _ Queen Harris boarded the plane this morning with one final wish - to see her two sons who left Wilson more than 30 years ago. Harris, a Wilson native, raised her sons in Wilson but last saw them when she was in her 30's.

After being diagnosed with cancer and given a limited time to live, she said she wanted to spend her final days with family.

"I never planned on going," she said in an interview Tuesday, but "I'm sick and I need help from my family."

Harris couldn't afford such a trip until learning about the Angel Foundation.

The Angel Foundation is part of 3HC - Home Health and Hospice Care, Inc., which has an office in Wilson. The foundation is providing the trip as part of its program of granting wishes to people with terminal illnesses," said Janet Sage, Community Relations Specialist with 3HC.

"She has family in Florida, and she doesn't have the money to fly down and her family doesn't have the money to fly here," Sage said. "I know that she's eager to see them."

Harris left Heritage Retirement Center on Martin Luther King Parkway this morning and was transported by the Johnston Ambulance Service to Wilson Industrial Air Center.

Escorted by a nurse, she flew out of the airport at 8 a.m. for a four-hour flight to Lakeland, FL. In Florida, Harris will be transported from the airport to a nursing home.

The expenses of the trip are being covered by the Angel Foundation and others not affiliated with the organization.

The pilot, Greg Cole of Raleigh, donated his time to fly Harris in his Cessna. The nurse accompanying Harris, Chuck Skelton, used a vacation day for the trip. The Johnston Ambulance Service also donated its services to get her to the airport, Sage said.

A last-minute expense of her Florida transportation to the nursing home was paid by Dr. John McCain, a Wilson rheumatologist, and BB&T Insurance Services. McCain is also a board member for 3HC.

"I'm very thankful," Harris said. "I appreciate everything they're doing to get me down there to be with my children. I'm very thankful because I wouldn't have any way to get there."

Home Health and Hospice Care is a nonprofit organization that donates its profits back into the community. The company's Angel Foundation grants a variety of wishes to people given a projected life span of one year or less.

Gifts can include a family picnic, a special dinner, an evening out or a short trip. Harris' gift was unique for the foundation, which began several years ago. Anyone interested in applying for a wish through the Angel Foundation can call 800-260-4442.

"(It's important) just knowing we helped fulfill this wish for her," Sage said. "She's been talking about it and looking forward to it."

You may reach Rochelle Moore at rochellem@wilsondaily.com or 265-7818.

For more information about Hospice programs of 3HC write to 3HC Hospice, attention: