Old Barriers Removed

The True Impact

Behind those impressive statistics are individuals who reached out for help in a desperate moment. Cancer patients who were losing hope found a new reason to hold on. Children who suffered from rare conditions or needed extensive surgery received a better quality of life. Veterans who kept fighting despite being off the battlefield discovered renewed strength.

To show the true impact of your generosity, here are few stories about the people you helped this year.

Children: Bella, Gael, and Ka'Laia

Bella

Bella had Chiari malformation and a cyst in her spinal cord. Doctors said she would need extensive surgery to fix these problems. Unfortunately, the surgery went wrong, and needed to be corrected by a specialist. The specialist who could best help Bella was at Weill Cornell in New York - more that 1,555 miles from her home. Your support of Mercy Medical Angels made it possible for Bella to access the care she needed. Her mother said: "If it weren’t for Mercy Medical Angels providing charitable flights, Bella would not have been able to receive the care she needed. You have been amazing!"

You can read Bella's full story here.

Gael

Gael was born prematurely and needed heart surgery almost immediately after birth. This brought complications, specifically Gael needing a tracheostomy tube to breathe. As the years went on, he needed more operations - some of which went very wrong. Gael's mother tried to give him the best quality of life possible in the meantime. Unfortunately, Gael's health reached a critical point. The specialists Gael needed to see were hundreds, or even thousands, of miles away. But your support of Mercy Medical Angels came through once again, and Gael was able to see the specialists. He is now able to live his best life without health complications. His mother said: "You have made a big impact on my son’s quality of life. We enjoy every minute of life, thanks to Mercy Medical Angels.”

You can read Gael's full story here.

Ka'Laia

Ka'Laia has Tourette's syndrome and other conditions. Her neurologist is 3 hours away, and she has to travel frequently for medication reviews and other appointments. This was a strain on her family's finances - especially since her mother had been on medical leave for most of the year. But if Ka'Laia couldn't see her neurologist, her health would decline. Again, your support of Mercy Medical Angels made an impossible situation possible. Ka'Laia's mother said: "We are beyond grateful for those who donate to Mercy Medical Angels, so that they can help families in need. Without you, none of this would be possible. Thank you!”

You can read Ka'Laia's full story here.



Cancer Patients: Lamar, Deborah, and Ethel

Lamar

When Lamar was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2021, he dove into research. The American Cancer Society referred him to a specialist that could put the cancer in remission. Unfortunately, the specialist was located more than 200 miles from Lamar's home. The cost of multiple long drives to medical treatment risked putting his family in a financial hole. Your support of Mercy Medical Angels ensured Lamar could receive gas cards, so he could go see the specialist and receive the treatment he needed.  Lamar said: "I can't say it enough times, but thank you again for the gas cards. Thank you for all your help!"

You can read Lamar's full story here.

Deborah

Deborah was diagnosed with a rare form of lymphoma in 2019. The best oncology team for her specific case was a 400 mile round trip away. It put a real strain on Deborah's wallet, especially since she couldn't work for many months at a time. But the situation wasn't as hopeless as it initially seemed. Your support of Mercy Medical Angels made it possible for Deborah to travel the long road to healing. She's grateful that she doesn't have to go on this journey alone. Deborah said: "Being able to get to my treatments means more than anyone would know. Thanks to you, there is hope for the future."

You can read Deborah's full story here.

Ethel

In 2017, Ethel went into the hospital for a CAT scan of her lungs for asthma problems. The technician mistakenly performed the CAT scan on Ethel's whole body and discovered kidney cancer in the process. Ethel's doctors couldn't effectively treat kidney cancer and the related complications, so they referred her to Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. Ethel couldn't afford the costs of travel - neither air nor ground was feasible. Her expenses, especially medical bills, made it almost impossible. But your support of Mercy Medical Angels gave Ethel multiple charitable flights to treatment between 2017 and 2023. Ethel said: "You have been very supportive by assisting me in getting to and from Mayo Clinic. The help you provide has lessened the financial burden. I am so grateful for your support!"

You can read Ethel's full story here.

Veterans: DeAnna, Jonathan, and Chadrick

DeAnna

DeAnna struggles with PTSD. Her doctors recommended she attend a healing retreat in Vermont. She barely managed to afford travel to the first session. But when she needed follow-up sessions, the cost of round-trip tickets seemed impossible to cover. Impossible, that is, until your support of Mercy Medical Angels provided charitable flights to and from the healing retreat. She is now back home and feels better-equipped to live her life. DeAnna said: "Thanks to Mercy Medical Angels, I can live with the trauma better and I can begin to overcome the debilitating effects. I don't know what I would have done without Mercy Medical Angels."

You can read DeAnna's full story here.

Jonathan

Jonathan was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army for disability in the early 2000s. He is an amputee and needs a wheelchair for mobility, and has multiple other conditions. His doctors encouraged him to participate in adaptive sports events, including the National Veteran Wheelchair Games. However, Jonathan was unable to afford the costs of airfare, preventing him from attending the events. However, your support of Mercy Medical Angels made it possible for Jonathan to be a participant in the National Veteran Wheelchair Games. Jonathan said: "I love that you are able to take care of Veterans with disabilities. God blessed me with Mercy Medical Angels. I just can't thank you enough!"

You can read Jonathan's full story here.

Chadrick

Chadrick suffers from PTSD as well as physical wounds. This made it hard for him to provide for his family, and reduced his quality of life. His doctor recommended he attend retreats at Quantum Leap Farm and Warrior's Ascent. Sadly, it was a long shot at healing - each retreat was hundreds of miles away from home. But all of that changed with your support of Mercy Medical Angels! You ensured that Chadrick could travel to and from the retreats on charitable flights. Now he feels ready to become a mentor to those who walked that same difficult path. Chadrick said: "You are the reason I fought and continue to fight for this great country. Thank you so much for your help and assistance!"

You can read Chadrick's full story here.

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