Serenity: Hope for the Holidays Mercy Medical Angels

The holidays are a season of gratitude and giving. Some may celebrate in good health. However, there are many individuals who aren’t as lucky during this happy time – such as breast cancer patients.

Imagine if this holiday season you were diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer. On top of that, your oncologist tells you that you only have a few months left to live. A warm, loving season immediately turns cold and cruel. The winter’s beauty becomes a whiteout blizzard of despair. And otherwise happy holidays twist into a time that is rather unhappy.

This scenario was the reality for Serenity.

Serenity lives in California with her son. At the time of her breast cancer diagnosis, her son was only two years old. The oncologist told her she had three months left to live. Serenity didn’t accept this grim statement for a final answer.

“I refused, in a haze, to take that prognosis for an answer,” said Serenity. “I was determined to fight but I didn’t know where to turn next.”

One of Serenity’s friends decided to research different cancer centers. MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston offered the best chance at treating her breast cancer. There was even a glimmer of hope that they could save her life. There was only one problem. The cancer center is almost 1,500 miles away from her home. Her income is limited, and she has to take care of her son as well as herself. Traveling to the treatment would be almost impossible. “I just don’t have the funds,” said Serenity.

Mercy Medical Angels worked together with Southwest Airlines. Southwest Airlines had a flight available. From there, Mercy Medical Angels secured round-trip tickets. Serenity was able to fly to MD Anderson for cancer treatment.

“In the three months that I was given to live, MD Anderson did not give up on me,” said Serenity. The doctors that treated her “sped into high gear.” In those three months, Serenity had the best care possible.

“Mercy Medical Angels helped keep me alive by flying me to Houston for my treatments and scans,” said Serenity. The flights from Mercy Medical Angels and Southwest helped Serenity to fight breast cancer. Most importantly, they managed to save her life.

Serenity isn’t giving up her battle. She has “top of the line doctors” continuing to help her. Mercy Medical Angels and Southwest will keep flying her until the cancer goes away.

In a season where people focus on gifts, cancer patients like Serenity have a reason to celebrate. She thanks Mercy Medical Angels and the donors for their role in saving her life. And life is the best gift of all.