Scottsdale nonprofit flies 3-year-old with life-threatening brain injury to New Orleans for treatment – 12news.com KPNX

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. A 3-year-old boy dealing with a serious medical condition left the Valley on Tuesday to receive special treatment on the other side of the country.

He's heading to a hospital in New Orleans

"I mean, in all honesty, the flight was the only way to get him there safely," said Toni-Lynn Noe, the boy's mother.

On the tarmac of Scottsdale Airport, waiting for the Wings of Humanity plane to take off, Toni Lynn Noe told us the heart-wrenching story.

It was the night of November 2. Her son, 3-year-old Kayden, was coughing uncontrollably.

So she brought him to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with croup an infection in the upper airway that blocks breathing and causes a barking cough.

He was given oxygen, steroids and breathing treatments, but nothing was working. Kayden was struggling to breathe and his airways were restricted.

During that process, his oxygen levels were in the single digits. And his heart rate was in low 20s, and thats when he sustained the brain injury," Noe said.

Noe discovered the world-renowned Dr. Paul Harch, an expert in hyperbaric medicine, whos treated brain injuries like Kaydens.

"Dr. Harch, he was the one that was giving us hope," Noe said.

Wings of Humanitystepped in to get Kayden to New Orleans safely and at no cost to the family.

"This is what makes working so hard on this vision so worthwhile. This is what its all about. Its not really saving childrens lives, its saving families," said Wings of Humanity CEO Stan Strom.

With Kayden loaded and strapped in, his parents prayed for a miracle. Hope is now rising as quickly as the Wings of Humanity transport plane.

"We definitely want everyone to know how amazing Wings of Humanity has been for Kayden," Noe said.

Kayden has made it to New Orleans safely, and well continue to update you on his progress.

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Scottsdale nonprofit flies 3-year-old with life-threatening brain injury to New Orleans for treatment - 12news.com KPNX