"About four years ago, our son Benjamin got sick very rapidly, and we couldn't get a diagnosis for over a year. After treating at St. Vincent's Hospital in Indianapolis, we were referred to Cincinnati Children's. Cincinnati Children's is where we finally got answers; the doctor told us Benjamin has autoimmune encephalitis. In other words, his immune system was attacking his brain by mistake."

"We're a family of eight - two parents and six children. Some of our children have complex medical needs like Benjamin. I'm a minister at a small church and I haven't received a raise since the lockdowns in 2020. Needless to say, our finances are tight."

"Mercy Medical Angels' volunteer pilot program has made it possible for us to fly to Cincinnati Children's for Benjamin's care over the past year-and-a-half. We have met so many generous people. One time when weather grounded us in Cincinnati, the pilots rented us a car so we could complete the trip."

"Benjamin still needs another year of treatment. But this time, we're not in this struggle on our own. Mercy Medical Angels and their volunteer pilot program have repeatedly been an incredible blessing to our family!"

~Ron, Benjamin's father