Putting flight simulators to good use

by mark.avey on January 2, 2008

There’s a heartwarming story on the Grand Traverse Herald web site about an eighth-grader who uses his spare time to take his laptop loaded up with a flight simulator to his local hospital to help patients pass the time whilst they’re receiving treatment.

It’s a wonderful example of our hobby being used to help people and is really quite humbling.

The Traverse City East Junior High School eighth grader has grabbed his dad’s laptop loaded with Microsoft Flight Simulator and headed to Munson Medical Center’s Infusion Clinic. There, he sets up computer and joystick and then plays with a patient getting chemo, with the flight simulator providing a fun distraction. Hanging out for usually an hour of the three- to four-hour procedure — patients typically get tired and sleep at that point — Kevin helps make a difficult situation easier.

Read the rest of this lovely story over on the Grand Traverse Herald web site.