
At Miracle Flights, we meet extraordinary children every day. But there is something especially radiant about August
August is a true blessing. Like all of our children, she is a dream come true, but August’s calm, sweet nature shines brightly. She is content and adventurous, delighting in life’s simple pleasures, whether zooming down her bumpy driveway, soaring high on a swing, or lifting off in a plane. Her sunny heart, warm hugs, infectious giggles, love of penguins and bubbles, and sweet voice sharing that her favorite color is blue make her nothing short of a miracle.
Yet, just after her first birthday, her world began to change.
“She was bumping into furniture, falling, and crying more when hearing loud noises,” her mother recalls. “We thought maybe she just needed glasses.”
Instead, the diagnosis was far more devastating: bilateral retinoblastoma, a rare and aggressive cancer of the retina affecting both eyes. According to the American Cancer Society, retinoblastoma is a malignant tumor of the retina, usually diagnosed in young children under five, and without prompt treatment, it can lead to vision loss or worse. August was only 15 months old. By then, her retinas were detaching, and the tumors were advancing rapidly. She was slowly losing her sight and time.
Local treatment options offered little hope. “If we stayed here,” her mom told us, “she would have lost her eyes.”
Across the country in New York, however, was a specialist, Dr. Abramson, a pioneer in retinoblastoma treatment who developed intra-arterial chemotherapy. This innovative therapy delivers chemotherapy directly to the eye’s blood supply, maximizing the effect on the tumor while minimizing side effects. His expertise was exactly what August needed. The only challenge? He was 2,400 miles away.
That is when August’s family found Miracle Flights.
“I remember crying when I discovered Miracle Flights,” her mother said. “Covering the cost of plane tickets felt impossible, but you made it possible. You made it happen. It was life-saving. You saved her eyes. You saved her.”
Since beginning treatment, August’s life has undergone a transformation. She can see the moon again. She points at birds, chases them across the grass, and watches planes soar through the sky. The vision that was once slipping away is now part of her everyday joy. Her eyes were saved. Her life was preserved. And her sweet, fearless, funny self is still thriving.
Thanks to Miracle Flights, August continues to fly to New York for her regular treatments and checkups. Her visits are now gradually spaced farther apart as the cancer remains inactive. Her doctor assures her family, “We will watch August grow up.”
And we believe she will: fearless, kind, full of energy, and able to see the world in all its wonder.
At Miracle Flights, we know every flight carries more than passengers. It carries hope, health, and a chance at a future that once seemed impossible. August’s story is a beautiful reminder of why we do what we do and why your support matters.
If you wonder whether your donation makes a difference, just remember August. She can see the stars now. She can see her sister’s face. She can see the world she is meant to explore.
