In 2016, Savannah from Labrador City, NL was born with a congenital heart defect called coarctation of the aorta. Her condition was complex, accompanied by a small bicuspid valve, a small mitral valve, and a left ventricle that was smaller than her right. Since her birth, her medical journey has been intensive. “At just two days old, she underwent surgery through her ribs (under her arm). She then had a cardiac catheterization just under one month of age, followed by open-heart surgery at three months old.”
Originally, Savannah’s family lived in Halifax, NS, where “the proximity to medical care made her treatment more manageable.” However, in 2018, they moved to Labrador City, NL which made ongoing care more challenging. “While Savannah continues to require regular check-ups, the cost of traveling for these appointments has been a significant challenge. Plane tickets for each of us are upwards of $1500 per person for a round-trip, making it difficult to access the necessary care.”
Savannah’s mother Billie shared the emotional and logistical toll of having to travel over 1,300 kms for medical care. “We knew that moving back home would make travel more challenging, but being closer to family was incredibly important to us. However, we didn’t realize just how difficult it would be until we saw the prices for a return airline ticket.” The financial burden was heavy, but the physical demands of travel from a remote community were equally daunting.
For several years, the family chose to drive to appointments rather than fly. “For the past two to three years, we have driven to Savannah’s treatments. Her cardiology team has been incredible to work with and made it possible to schedule her appointments during the summer months, allowing us to drive rather than fly.” This journey was not easy. “The journey to Halifax takes two full days, including a six-hour drive on the Baie Comeau highway, which features 200 km of gravel road and no cell phone service. After that, we take a 1-2 hour ferry ride, followed by more driving to reach our destination.”
It was through a close friend going through a similar experience that Billie learned about Hope Air. “When I was learning about Savannah’s diagnosis, a close friend of mine was going through a similar experience with her daughter. When I reached out to her, I asked how she managed with her daughter’s situation. She shared with me the incredible support that Hope Air offers, especially regarding travel. It was a relief to hear how they helped during such a challenging time.”
Billie praises Hope Air’s responsiveness and understanding of the unique challenges faced by families in remote areas. “Hope Air is truly incredible, always going above and beyond. They understand how unpredictable medical appointments can be and respond quickly, with minimal wait times.” She also highlights the lack of awareness some hospitals have about the difficulties remote families face. “Some hospitals don’t realize the challenges of traveling when you live in Labrador. It’s not as simple as hopping on a plane for an appointment. For one person, a return flight on short notice can cost up to $2000—and that’s not factoring in that flights don’t depart daily from here.”
Before Hope Air, the family’s options were limited. “If we had not had Hope Air, we would likely not be able to go due to affordability or have to get small loans to cover the full cost of travel.” Their current situation is more stable. “We do not travel with Hope Air at the moment. We are in a place where we can take vacations and include Savannah’s cardio check-ups within our vacations. We are at a place where we can give back for everything Hope Air has done for us.”
Billie stresses how vital Hope Air’s support is for families living in remote communities like theirs. “It’s so important for people to understand that many Canadians, especially those in remote communities, don’t have access to basic healthcare. Living in Labrador, it’s common to have to travel for almost every specialist appointment or wait until one visits the local hospital. And even the next closest hospital in our province is over 600 km away. This is a reality that not everyone fully grasps.”
Today, Billie reflects on the support network Hope Air provides. “Hope Air is just an amazing community for support and understanding in any medical situation. They listen and are always there to help.” For Savannah and her family, this support has been a lifeline — one that has made a world of difference on their medical journey.
In 2016, Savannah from Labrador City, NL was born with a congenital heart defect called coarctation of the aorta. Her condition was complex, accompanied by a small bicuspid valve, a small mitral valve, and a left ventricle that was smaller than her right. Since her birth, her medical journey has been intensive. “At just two days old, she underwent surgery through her ribs (under her arm). She then had a cardiac catheterization just under one month of age, followed by open-heart surgery at three months old.”
Originally, Savannah’s family lived in Halifax, NS, where “the proximity to medical care made her treatment more manageable.” However, in 2018, they moved to Labrador City, NL which made ongoing care more challenging. “While Savannah continues to require regular check-ups, the cost of traveling for these appointments has been a significant challenge. Plane tickets for each of us are upwards of $1500 per person for a round-trip, making it difficult to access the necessary care.”
Savannah’s mother Billie shared the emotional and logistical toll of having to travel over 1,300 kms for medical care. “We knew that moving back home would make travel more challenging, but being closer to family was incredibly important to us. However, we didn’t realize just how difficult it would be until we saw the prices for a return airline ticket.” The financial burden was heavy, but the physical demands of travel from a remote community were equally daunting.
For several years, the family chose to drive to appointments rather than fly. “For the past two to three years, we have driven to Savannah’s treatments. Her cardiology team has been incredible to work with and made it possible to schedule her appointments during the summer months, allowing us to drive rather than fly.” This journey was not easy. “The journey to Halifax takes two full days, including a six-hour drive on the Baie Comeau highway, which features 200 km of gravel road and no cell phone service. After that, we take a 1-2 hour ferry ride, followed by more driving to reach our destination.”
It was through a close friend going through a similar experience that Billie learned about Hope Air. “When I was learning about Savannah’s diagnosis, a close friend of mine was going through a similar experience with her daughter. When I reached out to her, I asked how she managed with her daughter’s situation. She shared with me the incredible support that Hope Air offers, especially regarding travel. It was a relief to hear how they helped during such a challenging time.”
Billie praises Hope Air’s responsiveness and understanding of the unique challenges faced by families in remote areas. “Hope Air is truly incredible, always going above and beyond. They understand how unpredictable medical appointments can be and respond quickly, with minimal wait times.” She also highlights the lack of awareness some hospitals have about the difficulties remote families face. “Some hospitals don’t realize the challenges of traveling when you live in Labrador. It’s not as simple as hopping on a plane for an appointment. For one person, a return flight on short notice can cost up to $2000—and that’s not factoring in that flights don’t depart daily from here.”
Before Hope Air, the family’s options were limited. “If we had not had Hope Air, we would likely not be able to go due to affordability or have to get small loans to cover the full cost of travel.” Their current situation is more stable. “We do not travel with Hope Air at the moment. We are in a place where we can take vacations and include Savannah’s cardio check-ups within our vacations. We are at a place where we can give back for everything Hope Air has done for us.”
Billie stresses how vital Hope Air’s support is for families living in remote communities like theirs. “It’s so important for people to understand that many Canadians, especially those in remote communities, don’t have access to basic healthcare. Living in Labrador, it’s common to have to travel for almost every specialist appointment or wait until one visits the local hospital. And even the next closest hospital in our province is over 600 km away. This is a reality that not everyone fully grasps.”
Today, Billie reflects on the support network Hope Air provides. “Hope Air is just an amazing community for support and understanding in any medical situation. They listen and are always there to help.” For Savannah and her family, this support has been a lifeline — one that has made a world of difference on their medical journey.