Woman with Rare Blood Cancer Gets Care Via Charitable Flights

October 3, 2024

Woman with rare blood cancer after receiving treatment, thanks to charitable flights

Diagnosed with Rare Blood Cancer

Sarah is a college professor from Durango, Colorado. Recently, she was noticing unusual symptoms, so she decided to go see her doctor. Her doctor ordered bloodwork - and the results weren't good. Sarah had an alarmingly high number of red blood cells. Further testing revealed she had Polycythemia Vera, or PV for short.

PV is an extremely rare type of blood cancer. It starts when the bone marrow produces too many red blood cells. This can cause dangerous blood clots and other complications. If left untreated, PV can progress into other forms of cancer, such as leukemia.

Forming a Battle Strategy

Sarah's doctors couldn't do much for her new diagnosis. Between her full-time work in higher education and being a single mother to three, she didn't have time for this.

But she wasn't going to give up. She knew it was time to form a battle strategy against PV. Her doctors referred her to Mayo Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona for further testing and treatment.

Fr0m Ashes...

Unfortunately, Sarah's plans had a snag. She would have to fly on a commercial airline to access the care she needed. But she couldn't afford the cost of a round-trip ticket. It seemed like her future was burning down, leaving her with only ashes. How would she make it to Mayo Clinic?

...To Aspirations

That was when Sarah found out about Mercy Medical Angels. She applied for charitable flights, and was approved. Mercy Medical Angels arranged and paid for flights on American Airlines. Sarah had aspired to get better health, and her hopes paid off.

"The whole team was friendly and efficient," said Sarah. "I truly appreciate their assistance."

"I Appreciate All of You!"

Sarah will probably need more help in the near future. But now that help is accessible to her - thanks to Mercy Medical Angels and American Airlines. "They won't let me fall by the wayside," said Sarah.

"To the team at Mercy Medical Angels," she added, "I appreciate all of you!"

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