Helping Victoria Find Her Wings Mercy Medical Angels

Victoria lives in Gloucester, Virginia. She was very athletic; her favorite sports were soccer and gymnastics. However, a few years ago, her active life took an unexpected tumble.

She was diagnosed with three rare conditions.

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) affects her blood flow when she stands up from lying down. Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome harms her connective tissues. Myasthenia Gravis attacks her involuntary muscles.

The three rare conditions disrupted Victoria’s active life. She had to stop playing soccer, and could no longer participate in gymnastics. “I went from being active and playing sports to not being able to walk for long distances,” said Victoria.

“There’s nobody in Virginia who can treat my rare conditions,” said Victoria. Specialists at Mayo Clinic would give Victoria the best treatment possible. There was only one problem: Mayo Clinic is more than 1,500 miles away from home. Her family couldn’t afford the cost of long-distance transportation.

It seemed all hope was lost.

That was when Mercy Medical Angels and Southwest Airlines flew to the rescue. They provided free airline tickets, which enabled Victoria and her family to travel.

“My family cried when they heard the news,” said Victoria.

Victoria can travel to Mayo Clinic and receive the care she needs. Even though she suffers from three rare conditions, the treatment at Mayo Clinic is improving her quality of life.

In one word, Victoria describes her experience as “phenomenal.” She also made a good point, saying that “people don’t know how important charity is.” Her hope is that people realize the importance of giving back, so that she and other patients can continue to access medical care.

“I’m more than grateful,” says Victoria. When rare conditions push young people like Victoria down, Mercy Medical Angels and Southwest Airlines help them find their wings.