Prostate Cancer Patient Finds Hope Through Charitable Flights
Diagnosed with Prostate Cancer
In late fall of 2023, Gerald was diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer. It had started spreading to his bones. But Gerald wasn't going to go down without a fight.
"It became my mission to find the best care possible," said Gerald. "I take care of my son and our dogs, and I have to stay alive for them."
Finding Care
Gerald dove into research to find the best possible care. He didn't just want to add years to his life; he also wanted to add life to his years. He also prayed about it.
Finally, he found out about Mayo Clinic's Prostate Cancer Center. "That would be the best place for me to receive care," said Gerald. "I found hope."
Hopes Dashed...
But as soon as Gerald reached for hope, it was dashed. Mayo Clinic was in Rochester, Minnesota - more than 1,540 miles away from his home in California. He couldn't afford to fly there, and driving that far was out of the question.
How would he keep up the fight against prostate cancer - let alone win?
...And Restored
That was when Gerald found out about Mercy Medical Angels. Mercy Medical Angels teamed up with the Hogan Family Foundation to cover the cost of round-trip flights to Mayo Clinic.
"Without the help from Mercy Medical Angels and the Hogan Family Foundation," said Gerald, "I would not be able to fly to one of the top places in the world for advanced prostate cancer care." His hope - and health - were on the way to being restored.
"They Have Made Hope a Reality"
Gerald will need to go back for more treatment, checkups, and scans. But he's gaining ground in the battle against prostate cancer. His last appointment showed much of the cancer was in remission, and what remained had shrunk drastically.
"Being able to access treatment at Mayo Clinic has given me more hope than I could imagine," said Gerald. "Mercy Medical Angels and the Hogan Family Foundation are both amazing. They have made hope a reality."
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