Volunteer Pilots Help Patient Needing Triple Organ Transplant

October 27, 2023
woman after receiving triple organ transplant

Needing an Organ Transplant

Jennifer lives alone, in a small city in Massachusetts. Her life was simple. Simple, that is, until 2010. That year, a string of illnesses made her life too complicated.  



She saw her doctor almost immediately. The doctor found out grim news: Jennifer’s pancreas and kidneys weren’t working as they should. A triple organ transplant – a new set of kidneys and a pancreas – would save her life. 


Attempts at Access...

As it turned out, Jennifer had to travel long distances for medical care. She would need an evaluation before the transplants could take place. Then once the transplant operations were complete, she would need to come back every year for a check-up.  


However, a problem soon sprang up. The best hospital that could help her was in Indianapolis, Indiana – almost 800 miles away from her home. Jennifer couldn’t afford to travel that great of a distance. Neither driving nor flying would work. Making matters worse, some of the medicines she was taking made her immune system weaker. Attempts at accessing the help Jennifer desperately needed were failing.


How would she get to Indiana, and get her chance at healing? 


...Finally Reach Success

That was when Jennifer found out about the volunteer pilot program of Mercy Medical Angels. She would be able to fly in a small general aviation aircraft to and from the care she needed - for free. This was better for her health than a crowded commercial flight.  


Once she received the evaluation, it was on to the next stage of the treatment plan – the triple organ transplant. The volunteer pilots of Mercy Medical Angels came through once again, flying her to Indiana and back home multiple times. Each year since then, the volunteer pilots have flown Jennifer to the follow-up appointments. 


"These Flights Help Us..."

Jennifer is now back home. She knows her trials aren’t over. But with help from Mercy Medical Angels’ volunteer pilot program, she also knows that she doesn’t have to face her trials alone. Her quality of life is improving by the day, and the transportation assistance also helps her to maintain physical and mental wellness. 


“These flights help us financially and in giving us peace of mind,” said Jennifer. “All your pilots are amazing.”

 

“Thank you so much – we appreciate what you do!” 

 


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