Southwest Offers Travel Grants to Patients Seeking Treatment in Baltimore
Airline's initiative benefits seriously ill receiving care at Mercy, Hopkins
Original article from the Baltimore Sun.
When James Russell learned that he had a rare form of appendix cancer, he thoroughly investigated his treatment options.
His research led him to Dr. Armando Sardi, a surgical oncologist at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore who is one of a few specialists worldwide who performs an aggressive, cutting-edge procedure on patients afflicted with advanced stage abdominal cancer.
New York resident Russell, a husband and father of two, proved to be a strong candidate for the potentially life-extending procedure. There was, however, a catch: His home is a three-hour drive from Baltimore when there's no traffic. A car ride home after a surgery lasting nearly 15 hours could be extraordinarily taxing for Russell.
Fortunately, he won't have to worry about the exhausting ride or nail-biting traffic on Interstate 95. Russell and his wife plan to fly for free on Southwest Airlines to and from Baltimore for the procedure.
The couple received round-trip tickets from Southwest's 2013 Medical Transportation Grant Program. Established six years ago, the program was created to ease the financial burden on families confronting serious medical problems that require travel for treatment.
Read more: http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/bs-gl-goodworks-southwest-20130715,0,7326452.story#ixzz2Z9QmeQpl