Wakeman Gribbell ’26 doesn’t remember being rushed by ambulance to Lawrence General Hospital after he suffered a ruptured artery in his brain during crew practice last April. Nor was he conscious for his 150-mile-an hour ride in a helicopter to Boston Children's Hospital for emergency brain surgery. But more than a year, and an inspiring recovery later, he was able to shake the pilot’s hand and thank the team that helped save him when Boston MedFlight visited campus yesterday morning.

The critical care transport team spent about two hours at Brooks on May 13 sharing their story of helping Gribbell, talking with students about what they do, and offering everyone on campus the opportunity to learn about Boston MedFlight’s role in saving lives.

View an album of photos from Boston MedFlight’s visit to Brooks.

Chief Development Officer Shawn Cote began the visit with a talk in Chapel describing how their non-profit transports about 6,000 patients a year throughout the northeast. Afterward, the student body gathered on the lawn overlooking Lake Cochichewick to watch the helicopter that flew Gribbell land so that students could check it out and talk with the pilots.

“This brings Wakeman’s whole recovery full circle because it all started right there, on the water almost a year ago to the day, and the people who were here were the ones who played a big role in saving his life,” said Wakeman’s father, Jim Gribbell, crediting his son’s teammates and coach, Brooks’ healthcare team, and local doctors, along with Boston MedFlight. “We’re so thankful for all the people …[who] got him back to where he is today.”

Watch Wakeman Gribbell’s September 2024 Chapel speech.

The Gribbells were told Wakeman had “less than a 50/50 chance” of surviving following his collapse 12 months ago.

“If he'd been in the ambulance, he wouldn't have made it to Boston,” said Jim. “So the seven minutes from Lawrence to Boston Children's, and the fact that his teammates got him off the water as fast as they did, were basically what saved his life.”

Looking over at his son, laughing and talking with classmates as they investigated the helicopter parked on the grass behind Brooks’ admission building, Jim marveled anew over Wakeman’s against-the-odds recovery (which included more than 40 days in the hospital, first in intensive care, then at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital).

“He was told all along he'd never return to Brooks; he'd be in a school for special needs for the rest of his life yet he was back here on campus for the first day of classes in September,” Jim said. “It's unbelievable. You know, he complains about getting a B in math and we're like, ‘It's okay! You're not even supposed to be here!’”

Boston MedFlight Director of Partner Engagement & Business Development Charles Blathras said post-recovery visits such as Wakeman’s are a regular, valuable experience. The organization offers a patient reunion event every year. “We invite patients to [meet] so that they can ask questions and find some closure,” he said. “It connects them with their crews. …That's an important part of moving forward, too. It's part of the healing process.”

Wakeman’s mother, Victoria Gribbell, admitted that Boston MedFlight’s Brooks visit was emotional for her, prompting memories of such a perilous time for her son. “Without them he wouldn’t be here right now, so this is just very heartwarming.”

What she most wants Brooks students to get out of the experience learning about critical care transport is that “if they want to help in the medical field there are many different ways they can save lives.”

“And I know this was based around Wakeman but this could have been anybody,” she said about her son’s emergency. “It’s just so educational and inspiring the work that these guys do.”

Henry Hebert ’25 got the message. “I thought it was really cool to meet the people who save lives,” he said.  

Hebert and Leito Sheckells-Betts ’25 had lingered after the event to watch the helicopter take off, headed out on yet another patient call. The pair are both interested in flying and had spent time talking with the crew.

“It was really cool to talk to the pilot and see a helicopter up close,” said Sheckells-Betts.

“He talked a lot about the mechanics of flying, what speeds they're flying at when they have a patient on board, where they have to land and how tight the landing zones are,” added Hebert. “What they do is unbelievable.”