Two-year-old Justin Oliver was born with a genetic condition so rare it took months to diagnose.
Hi mom Ericka Easterling noticed her son had labored breathing when he was just three weeks old.
Eventually the youngster, from North Carolina, was diagnosed with pulmonary veno-occlusive which causes a blockage of the blood vessels that carry oxygen-rich blood from the lungs to the heart.
At 15 months, Justin’s contracted an illness and went into respiratory failure; he was airlifted to Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston—more than a thousand miles from the family’s home in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Doctors diagnosed his condition but warned his family that he may not make it through. Thankfully this tough little boy clung on and he was put on a waiting list for a double lung transplant.
“He was on life support for 97 days, in intensive care for 107 days,” his mother Ericka Easterling said as per Miracle Lives.
Finally the family’s prayers were answered and Justin received the transplant in August 2019.
Thanks to nonprofit Miracle Flights Justin’s family received free plane tickets during Justin’s treatment.
“Miracle Flights—you’ve got the name right. It is a miracle,” says Ericka. “If I didn’t have Miracle Flights, when it came time for his check-up, I couldn’t do it.”
Now Justin is a normal toddler, nicknamed ‘Big Deuce’ for his fighting spirit.
“After all the suffering he’s been through, he’s a normal two-year-old. He loves to run around. He’s super excited about Halloween. He likes the scary stuff!” his mom said.
He has to travel to Houston every few months for follow-up appointments, a cost that Miracle Flights help to cover.
What a brave and tough little boy Justin is, sending you all good wishes for a happy and healthy life.
Please share Justin’s story and the wonderful work of Miracle Flights with your friends and family.
