chana_medChana’s fifth birthday this year was more than cake and presents. On August 28, she was flown from San Diego back to her home in Monsey, New York, 40 miles north of New York City. The trip, provided through Mercy Medical Airlift’s charitable ticket program, enabled Chana to see a world-renown osteopathologist and a specialist in vision development. Chana, who has Down’s Syndrome, suffers from complications in vision coordination.

The bubbly little girl is in very good health compared to other children with Down’s Syndrome. However, her optical complications require special attention. Doctors have recommended surgeries and glasses, but an osteopathologist in San Diego treated Chana a little differently.

Osteopathology is a treatment utilizing manipulation where doctors put their hands on the patient and work with bone movements. Dr. Frymann, Chana’s osteopathologist in San Diego, has had marked success in improving her vision. Chana’s father, David, said within two weeks they noticed positive results with both her vision and cognition. She has also been answering questions much more quickly since their return home.

“She’s holding onto her improvements,” David said.

Previous treatments had shown positive results for a couple of weeks, but Chana would always regress back to her complications.

David, who accompanied his daughter on the flight, says he heard about Mercy Medical Airlift through an organization he had previously worked with called Miracle Flight.

“It was one or two days later and we had our itinerary. It was shocking,” he said. “It was so easy and fast, it couldn’t have been any better.”

David says he accompanies Chana at her appointments while his wife stays home with their other three children.
On the plane, Chana watched her favorite DVD, an alphabet learning program called “Love and Learning” made especially for special needs children. She also colored with her crayons on the flight, and her father said she was up and down and walking around the aisle.

Fortunately, David has found a doctor closer to home who uses the same techniques as Dr. Valenti, the vision doctor in California. Dr. Wiener practices in North Island, New Jersey. He attended school with Dr. Valenti, who has given him instructions about Chana’s condition.

David, too, is given instructions for home exercises with Chana. She will look at objects close up and then at a distance, as a kind of eye training method, her father said. Chana also sees another osteopathologist in the Bronx once a month.

David says without help from Mercy Medical Airlift, Chana would not have all the opportunities she needs to develop into her potential.

With the high prices of airfare, he said Mercy Medical’s provision of flights is a huge help. “The flight gives us the opportunity to go to California as often as Chana needs. Without the help, we wouldn’t be able to do it. We really appreciate it.”