Slater Springman, a 22-year-old college baseball player, collapsed during a routine practice at Freed-Hardeman University in Tennessee due to severe heat stroke. His core temperature reached 105°F, leading to seizures and a medically induced coma. The heat stroke triggered rhabdomyolysis, causing his muscle fibers to break down and release harmful proteins into his bloodstream, leading to kidney failure. His creatine phosphokinase (CPK) levels soared to an unprecedented 1,000,000, far exceeding the normal range of around 200, and he required daily dialysis to manage his condition.

As Slater's condition deteriorated, his family was told that there was nothing left to do but pray. They rallied support from their Christian community across the country, and against the odds, Slater began to stabilize. Recognizing the need for specialized care, his physicians recommended transferring him to Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which offered advanced pulmonary and kidney care, as well as a strong support network of family and friends.

Given Slater's fragile state—still on a ventilator and multiple IV medications—his mother, Rexann, was initially apprehensive about the transfer. However, Angel MedFlight's Critical Care Flight Nurses and Paramedics, experienced in high-acuity patient transfers, managed the 400-mile flight seamlessly. Rexann accompanied her son on the journey, feeling immense relief upon their safe arrival in Tulsa.

At Saint Francis Hospital, Slater's condition gradually improved. After three weeks, he transitioned from the ICU to the Progressive Care Unit, where he began physical rehabilitation to regain his strength. Over the course of three and a half months, he progressed from being unable to hold a phone to walking with adaptive equipment. He was discharged on December 13th, just in time to spend Christmas at home. By the following August, exactly one year after his illness, Slater returned to campus to complete his Master's in Accounting and served as a player coach for the baseball team. In 2021, he graduated and is now engaged to be married, embracing a future once thought uncertain.

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