On February 28, Rare Disease Day was celebrated, an initiative to make them visible. And it seems that it is still very necessary, since precisely on Thursday, Jordan Flake and his baby Jackson were expelled from an American Airlines plane for their rare genetic disease, called ichthyosis, which causes the skin to become dry and flaky, although he explained that It is not contagious.
The airline has already apologized for the incident, but as the mother tells in her Facebook account, "I had never felt so humiliated".
Ichthyosis is not contagious
As Jordan says, before the flight took off between El Paso and Dallas, an airline employee, called by the crew, asked the passengers who occupied the seats next to him to get up.
Then, in a low voice, he asked her why the 'rash' they had on their skin was due and if she had a letter from the doctor authorizing them to fly. She explained that it was a rare disease, called ichthyosis, and that it was not contagious.
But still, the American Airlines employee 'invited them' to get off the plane, after talking with the crew.
The mother points out in her post that, incidentally, the incident occurred on the Day of Rare Diseases:
"Stop being ignorant and take the time to listen to people! You shouldn't have to explain to me."
He also clarifies that his complaint is addressed to the crew and not to the employee, who tried to "defend her" and managed by a hotel and a new flight with another airline.
But as he says in Love What Matters, he could not retrieve the checked luggage, so in addition to having to arrange for someone to take care of his daughter at home, he had to go buy the cream they need to calm his illness and some clothes.
Jordan explains:
"Thursday was the Day of Rare Diseases and I have never felt more aware and ashamed of my skin and my son's illness. When I went to the store after signing up at the hotel, for the first time I felt that everything the world was watching us I should never feel ashamed of myself for how I was born This is unacceptable and unnecessary I had never been asked to show a letter No doctor had told me that I had to carry documentation with me stating that it was not contagious, or what whatever they were assuming. In 2019, it's time we stopped discriminating. "
As the Whashington Post explains, American Airlines would have apologized through a statement, and has assured that it will reimburse the amount of its trip and that it has already initiated an investigation of the matter.
Photos | Jordan Flake at Lovewhatmatters.com
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