Patient Stories

Ava was diagnosed when she was 2 years old, with Stage 4 Neuroblastoma. After two years NED, Ava had a spot on a routine scan. Spencer and I sought care for Ava at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC). Several Neuroblastoma Doctors, who are experts in the disease, work at MSKCC. We had flown to New York expecting to have a consult with a doctor and fly back to Miami the next day. But the doctors suggested surgery, a thoracotomy, which is one of the most painful surgeries a person can have. After Ava survived the surgery we didn't know how we could safely get her home where our other 3 children were waiting for us.

I heard about Corporate Angel Network from another Neuroblastoma family. They also flew from South Florida to New York several times for treatment. Spencer and I contacted Corporate Angel Network and when Ava was discharged a few days later we got a flight home. We continued to fly from Miami to New York for two more years, taking at least 12 flights organized by Corporate Angel Network, several of those flights being round-trip. Ava was in a clean, comfortable and friendly atmosphere and every flight crew member and executive we flew with was warm hearted and caring. The ease of getting on the plane was much less stressful than waiting in long security lines. We are forever grateful to Corporate Angel Network and its corporation partners for creating this opportunity for us.

Ava loves ballet, chess, baseball and playing with her 3 siblings (Ella age 9, Jackson age 9 and Thomas age 11). Ava also loves the color pink, Trolls is her favorite movie and she loves reading Magic Tree House Books.

Baron

Johnathan, Baron’s father, added: “The logistics and communications that they facilitate are incredible. It seems too good to be true, but it is true. From the moment we got on the plane, to the moment we arrived at the hangar, the hospitality was unreal. The pilots were fantastic. This flight took away so much of our stress and it was also much easier for Baron, who tends to squirm and get feisty when we fly commercial, because he’s sitting on our laps and can’t move around. We are very grateful for the opportunity to fly with Corporate Angel Network. We felt so cared for.”

Yolanda and Phillip

Yolanda and Phillip met at Cancer Treatment Centers of America while being treated for different cancers and discovered they had both traveled via Corporate Angel Network and became friends. Yolanda added: “I would like to give a big thank you to Corporate Angel Network for their outstanding services. I appreciate you all for all your help. Traveling from Houston to Oklahoma every week for my treatment was very stressful. But, Corporate Angel Network made things much easier and comfortable, not to mention pleasant conversations over the phone, [from] my first contact when scheduling my flight. Second, being welcomed with hugs and smiling faces. I'm still making my trips to Oklahoma. Thank you, again!”

Prestun

The family added: “We want to thank everyone at Corporate Angel Network and [their] volunteers that work tirelessly and full of effort to make sure that Prestun is able to get a flight and get to his cancer treatments. With no stress or exhaustion when are traveling privately. We thank you from the bottom of our hearts and everything you done for us over the last 3 years.”

Richard Sr. and Rick Jr.

Father and son: same cancer, same doctor

Rick added: “When I had a recurrence of cancer, I contacted Corporate Angel Network and the experience has been nothing short of miraculous! I had to travel from Baton Rouge to Houston every week for almost a year and all of the staff at Corporate Angel Network made extraordinary efforts to accommodate my wife and I. Never once was there a missed flight or any problems what-so-ever with any flight arrangements. The caring and compassion from the staff at Corporate Angel Network is truly incredible and we think of them as family. Thank you and ALL of the staff there, I don’t think I could have done this without y’all’s help.”