The mercy medical angels logo is blue and white

Patient with Autoimmune Disease Drives to Life-Changing Care

November 19, 2024
Patient with autoimmune disease who drove to life-changing care, thanks to gas cards

Living with an Autoimmune Disease

Sarai lives in a rural area of Washington State. This is great for scenery and peace in nature, but terrible for her ongoing medical care. If something goes wrong with her health, she has to drive three hours to the hospital and three hours back home. And something has been going wrong with her health - very wrong.


Sarai was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus, also known as SLE or lupus. Lupus is an autoimmune disease - in other words, the immune system attacks healthy cells and tissues of Sarai's body instead of just attacking pathogens. It's led to a decline in her quality of life, and she can't work.


From Problems...

Sarai needs infusions of medication at the hospital, to treat the symptoms of lupus. Getting to and from the hospital means a six-hour round trip in the car. It's difficult for her to afford the cost of gas for such a long trip. The care that was improving her quality of life was out of reach and out of her budget. She needed assistance, but didn't know where to turn.



...To Promise

That was when Sarai found out about Mercy Medical Angels' charitable ground transportation program. Mercy Medical Angels sent her gas cards. Now she could pay for travel expenses - and receive the life-changing care she needed.



"In One Word, Great!"

When asked to describe Mercy Medical Angels in one word, Sarai doesn't have to think for long. "In one word," she says, "great!"


"I needed assistance traveling to the hospital, and they came through. Thank you, Mercy Medical Angels, from the bottom of my heart!"

Share this story with others.

Share your thoughts about this story.

Read More Patient Stories

Woman with cancer who received treatment at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida thanks to gas cards
By Stephanie Singer February 15, 2025
Her best shot at beating cancer was at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. But she couldn't afford the cost of driving there... until Mercy Medical Angels stepped in.
Cancer patient after receiving treatment at Cleveland Clinic, thanks to gas cards
By Stephanie Singer February 13, 2025
Read the story of a cancer patient who's winning her battles with help from charitable ground transportation... in her own words.
Man with multiple myeloma after receiving care, thanks to gas cards
By Stephanie Singer February 11, 2025
He was battling multiple myeloma, but couldn't afford the long drives to access treatment. Find out how Mercy Medical Angels helped him.
Patient with multiple rare diseases after receiving treatment
By Stephanie Singer February 8, 2025
Read the story of a patient with multiple rare diseases, who received help via gas cards... in her own words.
Child after receiving volunteer pilot's flight assistance for burn treatment
By Stephanie Singer February 1, 2025
Read how a young girl who suffered from burns accessed the care she needed to heal... in her family's words.
By Stephanie Singer January 29, 2025
By Stephanie Singer January 29, 2025
By Stephanie Singer January 29, 2025
Lung cancer patient driving to treatment, thanks to gas cards
By Stephanie Singer January 25, 2025
Read how a lung cancer patient is receiving the treatment she needs, thanks to gas cards... in her own words.
A patient getting to the care she needs, with help from Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic
By Stephanie Singer January 7, 2025
Ever wondered what happens when a patient receives transportation assistance from Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic? Wonder no longer.
More Posts
Share by: