Child with Cerebral Palsy Finds Life-Changing Care
A Difficult Beginning
Ailah was born in 2020. Before she was born, there was a complication with the pregnancy - a fetal maternal hemorrhage. In other words, about two-thirds of Ailah's blood leaked out into her mother. When she was born, she wasn't breathing or moving. She did, however, have a pulse. The medical team rushed Ailah to the NICU, and managed to save her life after two months.
Diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy
But the struggles weren't over yet. As the years continued, Ailah couldn't sit up on her own, walk, or use her arms. Feeding herself wasn't happening either. Her mother took her to multiple medical appointments. When all was said and done, Ailah was diagnosed with cerebral palsy. The experts said she would need intensive therapy to gain motor skills and learn how to communicate.
From Stumbling...
Ailah's mother jumped into research. The specialists that could help Ailah the best were in Orlando, Florida. There was just one problem: travel. Flying a distance of 1,035 miles would be too expensive, and driving was out of the question. But if Ailah couldn't make it to the specialists, her quality of life would deteriorate further. Her mother felt like she was stumbling on a difficult path, with no idea how to continue.
...To Soaring
That was when Ailah's mother found out about Mercy Medical Angels. Through a partnership with The Hogan Family Foundation, Mercy Medical Angels arranged and paid for a round-trip flight. Now, Ailah could receive the care she needed. She had gone from stumbling to soaring. After two weeks of various intensive therapies, Ailah and her mother went back home.
"We Keep Fighting"
When asked about how Mercy Medical Angels helped Ailah, her mother answers with gratefulness and hope. "The staff at Mercy Medical Angels were amazing and understanding about our needs. We loved working with them." She continues on, saying: "Ever since Ailah was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, it's been a struggle. But we keep fighting." Thanks to Mercy Medical Angels and The Hogan Family Foundation, Ailah and her mother don't have to keep fighting alone.
Read More Patient Stories
