Charitable Flights Help Father Heal from Rare Diseases
Struggling With Rare Diseases
Jeremy’s story began shortly after he turned six years old. But the happiness from his birthday celebration didn’t last long. He was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. After a year, it affected every joint in his body.
“I spent most of my childhood in hospitals,” said Jeremy, “as an experiment for the pharmaceutical industry.”
As he got older, it didn’t get any better. Multiple joint replacements, a host of rare diseases, and near-constant pain continued to burden him.
A Dark Situation...
The best chance for Jeremy to heal was at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. A team of specialists would be able to restore his quality of life. “Mayo Clinic is the only place that will help me because of my age,” said Jeremy.
But there was just one problem. It wouldn’t be easy to solve. The renowned medical center was 840 miles away from his home in South Carolina.
“The rising cost of our rent, doctor’s visits, insurance, and a loss of income due to COVID-19 put us in debt,” said Jeremy. There was no way he could afford a round-trip ticket for the medical care he needed. This was a truly dark situation, and Jeremy couldn’t find a way out of it.
...Brightens Up
When people are trapped in the shadows, they often pray to find light. Jeremy’s dark time soon became brighter through the intercession of angels – Mercy Medical Angels, that is!
Mercy Medical Angels teamed up with The Hogan Foundation to arrange and pay for charitable flights. Jeremy didn’t have to worry about falling deeper into debt, and was able to receive the care he needed.
“My flight was great,” said Jeremy. “I would never have been able to go to Mayo Clinic if it weren’t for Mercy Medical Angels.”
He added: “The whole team treats me with absolute respect, and truly cares for my needs.”
"My Family Is Blessed..."
Jeremy has since made it back home. He may need more help from Mercy Medical Angels and The Hogan Foundation in the future. But he trusts that they will come to his aid – as they have done for years.
“Thank you for giving me back the ability to be a husband and father,” said Jeremy.
“Mercy Medical Angels is exactly that – Angels. My family is blessed by them.”
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