“Sammy was a very happy baby for his first five months,” said Allison, Sammy’s mother. “At about six months, he tried a baby spoon of yogurt and went into full-blown anaphylaxis.”
At the hospital, the doctors managed to stabilize Sammy’s condition. Unfortunately, there was bad news: Sammy had severe food allergies to dairy, egg, and peanuts. If he consumed anything that had these ingredients, the resulting allergic reaction could be life-threatening.
As the years went on, Sammy continued to suffer from the effects of severe food allergies. A program at SoCal Food Allergy Treatment Center held promise.
They would administer micro-doses of different allergens. The micro-doses work similarly to a vaccine for a viral infection. Sammy’s immune system could get used to the presence of certain ingredients, without causing a severe immune response (in this case, anaphylaxis). Over time, it would reduce the frequency and severity of allergic reactions.
However, this program required that Sammy and his mother Allison had to travel to California every nine to ten weeks. They lived in New York – almost 2,500 miles away from the care Sammy needed.
“We couldn’t afford the airline tickets,” said Allison, “in addition to all the other expenses of Sammy’s treatment.”
Accessing treatment looked like a long shot.
When a goal seems too far away, that’s when prayer comes into play. Sammy’s prayer was answered by a team of angels – Mercy Medical Angels, that is! The nonprofit worked together with United Airlines to pay for Sammy’s round trip flights; Allison was able to come with him.
“Mercy Medical Angels are heaven-sent,” said Allison. “We have been comfortable and assured each time they have helped us make this journey.”
What had looked like a hopeless case was replaced with hope – and healing.
Sammy will continue flying to and from SoCal Food Allergy Institute for more treatment. But there’s no more uncertainty about how to afford the flights, thanks to Mercy Medical Angels and United Airlines.
“He couldn’t have received the care he needed if it weren’t for Mercy Medical Angels,” said Allison.
When asked how Mercy Medical Angels helped Sammy, Allison’s response springs forward with relief and hope.
“We are beyond grateful and truly inspired by the generosity of Mercy Medical Angels. They’ve taken care of us and provided peace of mind in a way I never thought possible."
If you're a patient or a have a family member who needs free medical flights, reach out to us about your transportation needs. We're here to help you access the medical care you need.
Signing up for our email list will enable you to receive updates on how your donation makes a difference. You will also be the first to know about special events and service opportunities.
Mercy Medical Angels is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization. Non-Profit Tax ID #: 52-1374161
GIVE THROUGH THE ANNUAL COMBINED FEDERAL CAMPAIGN (CFC) #11844
Disclosure Statements | HIPAA Policy |Privacy Statement | Terms & Conditions