Patient Needing Kidney Transplant Flies to Distant Care
Needing a Transplant
Barbara has dealt with a series of health struggles. She has high blood pressure and many of the problems that come with it. With help from her doctors, Barbara tries her hardest to keep her cardiovascular health under control.
More recently, however, she encountered a problem she couldn’t control – kidney disease. After being on dialysis for five years, her current treatment plan stopped being effective. She would need a kidney transplant.
From Fearful Nights...
After doing the research, Barbara found out about a specialist who could help her. However, a problem jumped out and got in the way. The specialist’s office was at Iowa Methodist Medical Center, located in Des Moines, Iowa.
The distance between her home and treatment was almost 670 miles. Driving wasn’t an option. If she didn’t stop, it would last almost 13 hours on the road – and that’s just going one way. Flying would take a much shorter time. But there was no way she could afford a round-trip ticket to the care she needed.
Barbara’s fear and anxiety was getting the best of her. If she couldn’t see this specialist, her health would continue to deteriorate. How would she travel to the care she needed?
...To Hopeful Flights
Luckily for Barbara, she wasn’t alone in her journey. Mercy Medical Angels was there to help. With funding from The Hogan Foundation, Mercy Medical Angels provided charitable flights so Barbara could see the specialist.
The specialist performed a kidney transplant for Barbara. Thankfully, the operation was successful. Recovery was fairly quick. Still, Barbara would need to return for follow-up appointments. Mercy Medical Angels and The Hogan Foundation teamed up for her again, making possible what seemed impossible.
Barbara’s fear had since turned into hope. She was on the way to better health – and a better quality of life.
"May You Continue to Be Blessed!"
As the years go on, Barbara may need to travel to distant care more often. But she knows that she doesn’t have to fly solo. Mercy Medical Angels and The Hogan Foundation helped her take off into the skies of hope, and they will continue to do so.
“I just want to say thank you to Mercy Medical Angels,” said Barbara. “You have helped me and so many others get to the care we need."
"May you continue to be blessed!”
Read More Patient Stories
