Amanda Lyles
Staff Writer
The increasing rate of people living on our planet affected by cancer is both concerning and fearsome. Sure, the world always has innovative inventions being created and or thought of each day, constant up-to-date information accessible by nationwide fingertips, modern effective medicine that can cure most things, and lastly treatments for most malignant or benign rarities, but it does not affect anyone’s chances of survival in such situations. Just knowing that people out there have issues that are life threatening or harmless, by living as a human being, there is always a chance to get sick or be sick, because no one can control it.
Despite all the money needed for dangerous treatments and the risks taken by all patients, people understand the value of life. When it comes to treatments, transportation is a huge factor depending on the patient. When taking treatments, risks, transportation and cost into account, life suddenly becomes not only difficult, but costly. Such a patient’s story would stand out among many. Chris Potter from Lancaster, Pa. was diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia, known as ALL. Such a cancer can be found in kids having a good chance for a cure, but for adults that chance of cure is greatly reduced. The cancer is extremely aggressive, affecting both the blood and bone marrow. So, when Potter was diagnosed with this fatal cancer, he was basically told to go home and prepare for the worst. Such a feeling could be more than overwhelming. In Potter’s case, for sometime it looked predictably incurable from a medical perspective. Suddenly, a treatment in Boston looked promising but would require a great deal of transportation both to and from. Potter’s doctor recommended the treatment to Potter, so it was up to him, noted Jessica Ames.
Thankfully Angel Flight East was there to help and Chris Potter has been able to make it to his treatments for free. Jessica Ames is an Alumni of Millersville University of Pennsylvania. She works for Angel Flight East in public relations. Angel Flight East is a nonprofit that helps both children and adults get to medical treatment far from home by facilitating free air transportation. For if it weren’t for them, Potter would not be free of cancer. An interesting fact about them is that their pilots use their own private planes and pay for all costs. By giving Potter the help he needed, the cost were more directed toward his treatments and Potter was miraculously cured despite his odds.