Donor Spotlight: Angela Stanford
June 30, 2025
On October 23, 2022, a normal Sunday bike ride south of Indianola took a life-altering turn for cyclist Angela Stanford. Struck by a large construction truck, Angela sustained catastrophic injuries: a shattered lower pelvis, a fractured back, three broken arteries, and a concussion. The initial call even reported her as a fatality as she wasn't breathing. Yet, thanks to the swift, heroic actions of the Indianola Fire Department and MercyOne Air Med, Angela was rushed to MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center and made a full recovery.
"I'm very, very lucky to be here," Angela reflects, recalling her 14-day hospital stay at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center. Her recovery was long and arduous, including two months in a wheelchair while her pelvis, painstakingly reassembled with 11 screws, 2 plates, and a staple, healed. “I had to get my muscles to relearn how to walk again,” said Angela. “I had to learn to trust my body again. My body felt different. It doesn’t feel like it used to.”
Despite the severity of the crash, and her long recovery, Angela was determined to get back on a bicycle. Angela has been cycling for over 25 years and is a dedicated RAGBRAI participant. She even participated in almost the entirety of 2023’s RAGBRAI, less than a year after her accident. Years ago, she had bought a bicycle pendant at RAGBRAI to wear when cycling and was wearing it the day of her crash. After her accident, Angela was devastated about the loss of her necklace and the memories it held. Luckily, someone had found the pendant and Angela had it with her belongings without even knowing. With her good luck charm back, Angela decided to add one of the spokes from her wrecked bicycle as a reminder of what she had survived. She wears the necklace with the charm and wheel spoke every time she cycles.
Grateful for the care she received, Angela reached out to MercyOne’s Aid Med team to share her story and was able to meet two Air Med team members who delievered her to the hospital. She was ecstatic to meet some of the heroes who had saved her life and thank them in person. “I know it's their job. It's what they’re paid to do, but you always hear about people being flown to hospitals. “You don’t actually expect it to be you as the patient,” she said. “I’m just so grateful they do what they do. I had to have that help that day or I wouldn't be here.”
Angela's deep appreciation for MercyOne’s Air Med team inspired her to give a donation to help support their services. "It's really important to me to recognize the work they do and show that gratitude," she states. "That crash was severe enough that I should not be here. But I am.”
Angela's generous gift is a testament to the life-saving care she received and her profound desire to acknowledge the extraordinary efforts of those who stood between her and a tragic outcome. Her journey is a powerful reminder of the vital role our first responders and medical teams play in our communities every day. “I can never say thank you enough," said Angela.
To support the lifesaving care MercyOne Air Med provides, consider making a gift below:
*Designate MercyOne Air Med under additional information.
Pictured above: Angela Stanford and MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center Air Med team.
