A Mother’s Journey for Her Son’s Vital Care
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When her 13-month-old son, Luca, needed a post-surgery follow-up in Vancouver for his cleft palate, Hailie, a single mother from Cranbrook, BC, faced a daunting challenge: affording and coordinating long-distance travel for specialized medical care. Fortunately, she turned to Hope Air.
“Hope Air coordinated a volunteer pilot service to make the appointments and not have to rebook.”
Medical trips are difficult, especially with a child who has specialized needs. “Driving would not be doable with my son’s feeding issues. If I had to drive, I’d lose more work [and] wouldn’t be able to afford food during the trip.”
A friend undergoing cancer treatment had introduced her to Hope Air years ago. Since 2019, she has relied on them for her own medical needs, Luca’s appointments, and has even helped other families access their support.
Thanks to Hope Air, financial and logistical barriers were removed, allowing her to focus on her son’s health. “They were timely in response when flights were changed or canceled.” Without them, she would have had to rely on virtual appointments, forfeiting in-person care.
During their last trip, they traveled with Hope Air’s Volunteer Pilot Program, which connects patients in rural areas with private pilots who fly them to their medical appointments.
“We had a beautiful pilot couple and a beautiful experience. Even Air Control was very nice knowing we had little Luca on board.”
With another follow-up scheduled next summer, Hailie remains grateful. “Without them, I wouldn’t be able to financially afford the medical trip my son needed.”
“Hope Air coordinated a volunteer pilot service to make the appointments and not have to rebook.”
Medical trips are difficult, especially with a child who has specialized needs. “Driving would not be doable with my son’s feeding issues. If I had to drive, I’d lose more work [and] wouldn’t be able to afford food during the trip.”
A friend undergoing cancer treatment had introduced her to Hope Air years ago. Since 2019, she has relied on them for her own medical needs, Luca’s appointments, and has even helped other families access their support.
Thanks to Hope Air, financial and logistical barriers were removed, allowing her to focus on her son’s health. “They were timely in response when flights were changed or canceled.” Without them, she would have had to rely on virtual appointments, forfeiting in-person care.
During their last trip, they traveled with Hope Air’s Volunteer Pilot Program, which connects patients in rural areas with private pilots who fly them to their medical appointments.
“We had a beautiful pilot couple and a beautiful experience. Even Air Control was very nice knowing we had little Luca on board.”
With another follow-up scheduled next summer, Hailie remains grateful. “Without them, I wouldn’t be able to financially afford the medical trip my son needed.”