Charitable Gas Cards Help Veteran with Cancer Find Treatment
Challenges of Cancer
Preston is a disabled Veteran who lives in North Carolina. His family is small but close-knit – it's just him, his son Nyjel, and his service dog Pilot.
But they were about to undergo the challenge of a lifetime. Preston and his family faced this challenge when he was diagnosed with cancer. Multiple myeloma and thyroid cancer rapidly made his life more difficult.
Trials on the Road
As time dragged on, so did Preston’s treatments. He receives chemotherapy bi-weekly, and high levels of radiation treatments. He also needed a bone marrow transplant. Once a month, he receives bone strengthening treatments. The near-constant medical visits sapped his energy – and with it, his financial resources.
“I live off my Veterans’ Affairs disability and SSDI from month to month,” said Preston. This is hard enough, without needing to travel long distances for medical care. For his frequent treatments, he drives from his home to the Veterans’ Affairs hospital in Durham. Sometimes he goes to a Veterans’ Affairs hospital in Nashville. The usual trips take almost 2 hours and more than 100 miles in the car.
The road was full of trials, and Preston wasn’t sure if he could overcome them.
A Race to the Rescue
That was when Preston found out about Mercy Medical Angels’ ground transportation program. The nonprofit raced to his rescue and sent him charitable gas cards. This made it possible for Preston to drive to treatment.
“Any form of help with travel-related costs due to my constant cancer appointments helps greatly,” said Preston. “I couldn’t have financial stability, and I couldn’t have received the care I needed, if it weren’t for Mercy Medical Angels.”
“I Want to Thank Mercy Medical Angels...”
Preston is now back home. He will likely need to travel to more doctor’s appointments in the future. But he trusts that Mercy Medical Angels will continue to help him – until he beats multiple myeloma and thyroid cancer.
“I want to thank Mercy Medical Angels for the generous funds from the gas card,” said Preston. “It makes travel less stressful, and I can share positive spirits with my family.”
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