About Us
Background
LifeAbove's vision was first given to Devon Allen, a commercial airline pilot, who felt the need to use his gifts to serve the Lord through aviation. Devon mentioned his vision to his wife, Dr. Marte Allen, and upon research found Grace on Wings, an air ambulance ministry. Together they traveled to Cincinnati to meet with Grace on Wings, to gain information on aviation related ministries. Since Devon has a background in air ambulance, and he has a passion for spreading Christ's love and helping others, he began to research on how to start a Christian charity air ambulance. Through months of prayer and research, Devon and his wife, Dr. Marte Allen, discovered the need for health related rehabilitative services for persons with disabilities as a result of a natural or man made disaster. This discovery hit home for Dr. Allen as she has been disabled her whole life with bilateral neurosensory hearing loss which makes her half deaf. Throughout Dr. Allen's life, she has struggled with being treated differently because of her hearing loss. It has been a struggle for Dr. Allen dealing with her disability from being stared at because of her hearing aids to feeling unintelligent due to not hearing well, so she understands the frustrations of a person that has suffered a physical impairment and not feeling normal. The Allen's feel that they have been called by the Lord to use their gifts and struggles to work together as one to help those disabled from a natural or man made disaster. Through the power of Jesus Christ, LifeAbove rehabilitation team will help the disabled to become empowered by learning to become mobile, functional, self sufficient and discovering the love of Jesus Christ. Through prayer Devon and Dr. Allen decided to obey God's calling and work together to create LifeAbove.
Ministry Summary
Natural disasters are defined as a ‘sudden ecological disruption or threat that exceeds the adjustment capacity of the affected community and requires external assistance. Natural disasters include earthquakes, floods, tidal waves (tsunamis), landslides, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, as well as droughts. According to the Annual Disaster Statistical Review 2009, published by the International Disaster Database (EM-DAT), there has been an average of 392 natural disasters that occurred around the world each year from 2000-2008 and every year natural disaster effect approximately 230.8 million people.
Natural disasters result in immediate, significant loss of life and long-term physical impairments such as spinal cord injuries (SCI), traumatic brain injuries (TBI), amputations, fractures, musculoskeletal strains and pain, peripheral nerve injuries and broken bones. Rehabilitation programs therefore need to be started as soon as possible to minimize the societal impact on the community to help members become productive and help with re-build efforts. Rehabilitation efforts that start too late can lead to severe and long lasting disabilities which can result into unnecessary deaths.
Natural disasters are defined as a ‘sudden ecological disruption or threat that exceeds the adjustment capacity of the affected community and requires external assistance. Natural disasters include earthquakes, floods, tidal waves (tsunamis), landslides, hurricanes, volcanic eruptions, as well as droughts. According to the Annual Disaster Statistical Review 2009, published by the International Disaster Database (EM-DAT), there has been an average of 392 natural disasters that occurred around the world each year from 2000-2008 and every year natural disaster effect approximately 230.8 million people.
The effects of a natural disaster in countries with a poorly developed health infrastructure are devastating. Although foreign aid may be forthcoming, the traditional health system response to natural disasters generally focus on surgical intervention and is often short lived. Following a natural disaster, individuals incur functional impairments, disabilities and mental health conditions that require an expert in diagnosis and treatment in rehabilitative measures. Currently there is a lack of trained rehabilitation responders as well as a lack of medical recordkeeping, data collection, and established outcome measures. LifeAbove’s ministry is to show Christ love through aviation, medicine and counseling by providing humanitarian aid to areas affected by natural disaster and/or have a lack of rehabilitative resources.