Kaylie was born with Type 1 Citrullinemia, a rare genetic malformation that causes ammonia and toxic substances to build up in her bloodstream. If left unchecked, Kaylie’s condition could have left her comatose and permanently brain damaged. Before her second birthday, she had already received a liver transplant — just one of many healthcare procedures needed to manage her condition.
The stress and uncertainties of a very sick child can often be overwhelming for any parents. Fortunately, Kaylie's family found incredible support at UCLA Medical Center, where a team of top-tier experts regularly address her health conditions. What began as weekly appointments slowed to monthly visits, but the family often had to deal with Los Angeles rush-hour traffic, which left them regularly facing six-hour one-way trips from their home in Chula Vista.
But a social worker at UCLA referred them to Angel Flight West, who knew the organization could drastically reduce the family's travel time, and Kaylie could get to her appointments without exhausting road trips. And since then, she's flown 26 times and is getting the care she needs, at no cost to her family.
