A group of people with severe disabilities left their wheelchairs behind and took to the skies in Oakland County on Friday, Sept. 25, getting a bird’s-eye view of the Metro Detroit area from inside a helicopter.
The experience was made possible by Danny’s Miracle Angel Network, a nonprofit dedicated to removing barriers and creating inclusion for people with disabilities.
Among those taking flight was April Shaw, a 16-year-old from Westland who was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy at just 2 years old.
“You just, you’ll just do it. You just have to figure out your way to do it,” Shaw said before climbing out of her wheelchair and into a helicopter seat.
April’s story: defying the odds
Shaw’s journey to the helicopter ride is one of resilience. Her mother, Andrea Mitcham, recalls the devastating prognosis doctors gave when April was first diagnosed.
“I was told in the beginning not to save for college, save for her funeral,” Mitcham said. “14 years later, God’s defied.”
The family’s faith and determination brought them to this milestone moment — one that Mitcham said reflects the spirit her daughter has carried since childhood.
A mission born from personal loss
Danny’s Miracle Angel Network was founded by Ziad Kassab, who created the organization to honor his late brother, Danny.
“At the young age of seven he got hit by a car while crossing the street. He as a result of his injury was paralyzed from the neck down, dependent on a ventilator to breathe, 24 hour nursing care around the clock, power wheelchair. It was a big change for our family,” Kassab said.
Kassab, who goes by “Z,” turned his brother’s experience into a lifelong mission of inclusion — and that work continues today through the nonprofit.
“The reward of it is like unbelievable,” Kassab said.
Creating experiences, breaking barriers
Danny’s Miracle Angel Network runs helicopter rides multiple times a year and organizes other experiences for people with disabilities, including cruises and rides in convertibles down Woodward Avenue. All of the events are designed to promote inclusion and break down barriers.
To learn more about Danny’s Miracle Angel Network or to get involved, visit mydman.org.
