Patient Story: Shawn Rogers
For Shawn Rogers, October 14, 2012, started like any other Sunday. The 24-year-old was newly married to his wife, Maggie, and enjoying the start of their next chapter together. Shawn was doing work around their house in Rochester, New Hampshire, including carrying a recliner up a flight of steps. He slipped and fell about six feet, diving headfirst onto concrete. That’s all he remembers — until he woke up in a hospital in a different state. He was lying in bed at MaineHealth Maine Medical Center in Portland.
“I remember falling, and then I remember waking up in the hospital completely confused because I was told I showed up in a helicopter. At the time I lived in the middle of the woods,” remembers Shawn. “And I’m like, ‘A helicopter can’t land on our roof. How did that work?’”
Shawn soon learned local EMS and firefighters responded to his home in Rochester immediately after his fall. Frisbie EMS intubated Shawn, and he was transported by ambulance to Sky Haven Airport in Rochester, where he was met by a LifeFlight of Maine crew and helicopter.
His blood pressure and heart rate were concerningly high, and LifeFlight’s clinicians needed to act quickly. The medical crew, consisting of flight paramedic Mike Choate and flight nurse Brad Boehringer continued to provide care and prepared Shawn for transport via helicopter to Portland.
“Because they were able to intubate me and get my heart rate down so much, they prevented either death or long-lasting damage,” said Shawn. “I don’t know if I would still be here if it wasn’t for LifeFlight.”
Shawn was in the hospital for only three days. He spent time in occupational therapy and was out of work for about six weeks while he recovered.
Beyond that, Shawn said his outlook on life changed. In the fourteen years that followed, he moved to Maine with his wife, and in 2024 was hired as the Events and Communications Director for the Town of Lincoln.
“When you’re given a second chance at life, you kind of have a different mindset, and my mindset now is full of gratitude. I have chosen a path now where I work as a public servant to give back to my community,” said Shawn. “Part of that is because I couldn’t do that if LifeFlight wasn’t around, because I don’t know if I would be here.”
In his new role, Shawn came across the 2026 LifeFlight of Maine calendar at the town’s office. (LifeFlight prints an annual calendar that is shared with communities and agencies around the state. It includes patient stories and information about LifeFlight’s services.) As he flipped through the months, he was inspired by the other patients featured. He decided to reach out to Lauren Cownan, the Grateful Patient Program Coordinator at the LifeFlight Foundation, in hopes of reconnecting with his crew and sharing his own story.
“I don’t hold anything back at all,” said Shawn. “I share my story for everyone because it’s important to know everything.”
In February, Shawn received a tour of LifeFlight’s hangar in Bangor by flight paramedic Mike Choate.
With help from Lauren, Shawn and Maggie were able to visit LifeFlight’s hangar in February of 2026. They were greeted by flight paramedic Mike Choate, who fourteen years ago helped save Shawn’s life.
“It was really healing, really rewarding,” said Shawn about the experience. “It was like meeting him for the first time, but knowing the connection was special.”
“Visiting with patients whom we have transported is one of the most meaningful parts of this work,” said Mike. “The connection is bidirectionally therapeutic, and I appreciate every opportunity to share that moment.”
Shawn has made incredible strides in his recovery. “I still have a traumatic brain injury, but it doesn’t present itself every day, all day. I wouldn’t say I’m fully recovered, but I’m happy to be where I am. Blessed to be where I am.”
In his free time, Shawn enjoys camping, fishing, and boating. He’s grateful he can still do the activities he loves and give back to his community — something he wasn’t sure would be possible had he not received the rapid, advanced medical care he did fourteen years ago.
If you would like to share your LifeFlight story or learn more about the Grateful Patient Program, please reach out to Lauren Cowan at Llamberson@lifeflight.me or (207) 210-2208.
