Teen With Kidney Disease Sees Specialists, Thanks To Free Flights
Diagnosed with Kidney Disease
It was 2021, a year that began with uncertainty for many. During that year, Liliana faced a challenge – one that would stretch into the years after. “Liliana was diagnosed with a rare kidney disease,” said Liliana’s mother. “It’s called Cystinuria.”
Cystinuria is a somewhat rare condition, affecting one out of every 7,000 people. It occurs when too much cystine builds up in urine, rather than dissolving and returning to the bloodstream. The cystine forms crystals or stones which get stuck in the kidneys or bladder. Complications include severe pain, infections, and chronic kidney disease.
Struggles and Surgeries
Liliana struggled with painful kidney stones on a regular basis – and lots of them. She needed one surgery after another to remove the stones, but they kept coming back. One time, she was in the hospital for two back-to-back surgeries. The doctors had to remove 100 stones from one kidney.
“Recently, she has been very ill,” said Liliana’s mother. “She needed four surgeries in one week.”
How To Get There?
It eventually got to the point where Liliana’s mother realized that the doctors in their home state of Kansas could only do so much. She began to research other options. The best option was at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, where kidney specialists could give Liliana the care she needed.
There was just one problem, and it wouldn’t be easy to solve. Mayo Clinic was more than 400 miles away from Liliana’s home in Kansas. Driving would take too much time, not to mention the high cost of gas. But the family couldn’t afford round-trip airfare, either.
“Our eldest son is in his first year of college,” said Liliana’s mother, “and we hadn’t expected this financial burden.”
How would Liliana gain access to the care she needed?
Not Flying Solo
That was when Liliana’s mother found out about Mercy Medical Angels. Mercy Medical Angels utilized a partnership with United Airlines to pay for and arrange flights. Liliana was able to fly to and from Mayo Clinic with her mother - at no cost.
The return flight was during the week of Christmas. This normally causes enough problems for travel – and that’s without a blizzard in the forecast. Liliana’s mother calls it “a Christmas miracle” that their flights were on time, every time. Another miracle – no less impressive than the first - is that Liliana’s health and quality of life are finally improving.
“The Assistance Was Amazing...”
Now, Liliana is back home and doing much better. She may need more assistance in the future, but she and her family trust that Mercy Medical Angels and United Airlines will continue to help them.
“If weren’t for Mercy Medical Angels and United Airlines,” said Liliana’s mother, “Liliana wouldn’t have received the care she needed.”
“The assistance was amazing. Thank you, Mercy Medical Angels!”
Read More Patient Stories
