Stories from Grateful Patients: Dakota

September 17, 2024
Boy after receiving treatment for Long Covid, thanks to volunteer pilots

In His Family's Words...

"Dakota suffers from Long COVID, which consists of various debilitating medical conditions as a result of the infection. There are days he cannot walk; sometimes there are days he cannot even get out of bed. He no longer has much of a childhood because he can't do all the things he once did."


"Doctors in our hometown of Manteo, NC were stumped. They couldn't help Dakota feel better. We had to go to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. But we didn't have the funds to get there. I applied for multiple federal and state programs for assistance. Every single one of them turned me down."

"That was when I found out about Mercy Medical Angels' volunteer pilot program. I cannot give enough praises to Mercy Medical Angels and their volunteer pilots. They made Dakota's first time flying a positive experience that he will never forget."


"The stress and worry that was taken off my shoulders can never be put into a monetary amount. I will never be able to show the appreciation I have for everyone on the team that helped us."



~Dakota's mother


Share this story with others.

Share your thoughts about this story.

Read More Patient Stories

By Stephanie Singer July 27, 2025
She needed help flying to a clinical trial for patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Find out how Mercy Medical Angels got her there... in her own words.
By Stephanie Singer July 23, 2025
Read the story of how a single mother received gas cards to access life-changing surgery, helping her and her daughter to have a better life... in her own words.
By Stephanie Singer July 22, 2025
He needed heart surgery, but the best doctors to help him were in another state. Find out how Mercy Medical Angels' volunteer pilot program helped him get there.
By Stephanie Singer July 21, 2025
Read the story of a patient with a rare blood cancer and how he was able to access treatment, thanks to charitable flights... in his own words.
By Stephanie Singer July 19, 2025
A female Veteran needed to get equine-assisted therapy at Quantum Leap Farm, but had no way to get there. Find out how Mercy Medical Angels and Southwest helped her.
By Stephanie Singer July 18, 2025
Find out how a single mother with multiple rare conditions found the best care possible, thanks to charitable flight assistance... in her own words.
By Stephanie Singer July 17, 2025
She was diagnosed with breast cancer, and opted for holistic and alternative treatments. Find out how Mercy Medical Angels helped her receive the best possible care.
By Stephanie Singer July 10, 2025
A disabled Veteran attended a peer support program known as Warrior PATHH, thanks to charitable flight assistance... you can read his story here, in his own words.
By Stephanie Singer June 30, 2025
Read how a patient with Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and other conditions accessed life-changing care out of state, thanks to charitable flights... in her own words.
By Stephanie Singer June 22, 2025
Read how a Stage IV cancer patient flew to the care she needed... in her own words.