Child Finds Relief From Rare Condition, Thanks to Gas Cards

November 25, 2024

Boy with osteochondritis dissecans, a rare joint condition, after receiving distant care

Sports Injury Worsens

In October 2023, Javier was playing soccer with his friends. It was all fun and games - until his knee popped out of place. His family figured it was just an ordinary sports injury that would heal in time. Unfortunately for Javier, they were wrong. The pain only got worse. What was more concerning was that his knee kept giving out while doing simple activities like walking or standing.

After seeing the pediatrician, it became clear that the problem was more severe than anyone initially thought. The pediatrician referred Javier to a specialist. The specialist diagnosed him with osteochondritis dissecans of the knee. This is a rare disease where the bone ends and cartilage that meet in a joint begin to fall apart. It can cause pain, swelling, and weakness in the affected joint, among other problems.

Needing Surgery, No Way To Get There

Javier had a severe case of osteochondritis dissecans. He would need a specialized knee surgery. "Surgery is definitely not a word you want to hear about your 10 year old son," said Javier's mother. "But he needs this so that he can go back to being his active self."

Unfortunately, a snag soon arose in the plans. The doctors best qualified to perform the surgery were five hours away from home. Paying for gas for that long of a trip would be impossible. Javier had no way to get to the hospital. How would he access the surgery and improve his quality of life?

Mercy Medical Angels To The Rescue

That was when Javier's mother found out about Mercy Medical Angels. She applied for assistance, and received gas cards. Now she could drive Javier to surgery and follow-ups.

"Because of Mercy Medical Angels helping us," said Javier's mother, "we were able to get his medical problems taken care of with much less stress. He hopes to be playing soccer again next year. Thank you, Mercy Medical Angels, for helping our family!"

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