KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- He's helped victims of Hurricane Katrina, and West Tennessee's tornados, but a freak wreck almost left a South Knoxville Red Cross volunteer stuck 750 miles from home.

Big Al Sheets had planned to stay in Cedar Rapids, Iowa as long as it took to help flood victims, and for his own recovery. But for Grace on Wings, he might still be there.

Through tears, Big Al’s daughter Allison Harned says, “It's such a relief to get my Dad home, and it's been really hard.”

From Cedar Rapids, the flight to Knoxville is little shorter than a couple of hours.

Louis Keeling with the American Red Cross says, “Just the thought of him not being in the hospital, all this time for rehab.”

But with all Big Al Sheets has been through in the last few weeks, Big Al says, “I remember we were feeding people, and the next thing I remember, I was bouncing off the inside of that ERV like a ping pong ball.”

On his tenth day of helping Iowa's flood victims, a Cedar Rapids City truck blindsided his Red Cross Relief truck -- Tossing him clear.

“It's been nothing but a blur of pain since then.”

His left knee and leg were shattered, and that demanded surgery three days later.

“And I've got a big plate and a bunch of pins in this arm.”

His daughter Allison says, “When I got there, I truly did not realize the extent of his injuries.”

Keeling says, “And there's no place on an airplane that somebody could sit with a leg straight out…The cheapest air ambulance quote that they were given was $18,000.”

Hal Blank, and Grace on Wings delivered Big Al for free.

“We are the only charity air ambulance service based on faith.”

They’ve only been around since last Thanksgiving.

For Big Al, faith has been but one of his rocks.

“Pain was rough, but I was medicated well, and the thing that helped me the most--my daughter.”

His daughter says, “I had so many friends that called, and they were so supportive.
That definitely was a lot of motivation too.”

Blank says, “We want all honor and glory to go to the Lord, and that's what this is all about, showing God's love through aviation.”

Big Al faces weeks rehabbing at Patricia Neal before he can go home, but he’s not done volunteering.

“It'll take whatever time it takes, and then I'll be right back out there again.”

So far, the Red Cross has paid Al's medical expenses, even though a Cedar Rapids city truck hit the Red Cross's parked vehicle.

Grace on Wings flies out of Indianapolis, and so far they’ve flown 19 missions, providing about $145,000 worth of services paid for through private donations.

If you'd like to help, go to GraceOnWings.org.