Kelly Waldron,
Our First Patient
Forty years ago, STARS flew its first ever patient — a premature baby girl named Kelly, who needed life-saving critical care that the local hospital was unable to provide at the time.
Kelly was able to receive the care she needed, and has since grown up, graduated high school, started a career in accounting, and is now a business owner. She and her husband Tyler are raising two little girls. Kelly’s story is a testament to the impact of STARS.
Reflecting on her life, Kelly says, “If STARS wasn’t here, I definitely wouldn’t be here. I wouldn’t have done anything at all with my life. My parents wouldn’t have watched their daughter grow up. They wouldn’t have been grandparents.” Her words highlight the profound effect STARS has had on her life and her family’s lives.
Since that first flight, STARS has flown over 60,000 missions across the prairies, providing critical care to countless individuals. Each mission represents a life touched, a family supported, and a community strengthened by the dedicated efforts of STARS. Kelly’s rescue story and the thousands of missions that followed highlight the essential role STARS plays in health care and the difference it makes in people’s lives every day.
I know myself and my family will be forever grateful that STARS is here.”
Kelly Waldron
Kelly has since become a life-long advocate for STARS, and in recognition of her being the first patient, STARS named one of its H145 helicopters in her honour – C-GKLY.

STARS Helicopters
Discover how STARS Helicopter Medical Transport provides critical care anywhere, saving lives when every second counts. Learn more about our life-saving missions and state-of-the-art helicopters

Kelly first appeared in our third calendar, in 1995.

Kelly's feature image from this year's calendar with husband Tyler and daughters Reese and Rory.

Kelly poses with a vintage copy of the 1995 STARS calendar.

Kelly poses with her husband Tyler and daughters Reese and Rory at a local playground in their community.

Kelly poses alongside the H145 helicopter that bares her initials in its callsign, C-GKLY.
Support STARS today to help patients like Kelly.
Your purchase of the 2025 STARS Calendar contributes to our ability to provide critical care, anywhere, to patients like Kelly. Every dollar is returned to our critical care operations, whether in the air, on the ground, or virtually. On behalf of our Very Important Patients, our Air Medical Crew, our Pilots, and all of us at STARS, thank you for being an ally.