Michael Perrino, middle, 16, from Mashpee, Mass., is greeted by Miracle Flight employees in the baggage claim area of McCarran International Airport on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019, in Las Vegas. Perrino was born with TAR syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that left him without arms or knees. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto
Miracle Flight CEO Mark Brown, left, talks with Michael Perrino, 16, from Mashpee, Mass., in the baggage claim area of McCarran International Airport on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019, in Las Vegas. Perrino was born with thrombocytopenia-absent radius (TAR) syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that left him without arms or knees. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto
Michael Perrino, 16, from Mashpee, Mass., is greeted by Miracle Flight employees in the baggage claim area of McCarran International Airport on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019, in Las Vegas. Perrino was born with thrombocytopenia-absent radius (TAR) syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that left him without arms or knees. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto
Miracle Flight CEO Mark Brown, left, escorts John, Misty and Michael Perrino, 16, from Mashpee, Mass., to their vehicle at McCarran International Airport on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019, in Las Vegas. Michael Perrino was born with thrombocytopenia-absent radius (TAR) syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that left him without arms or knees. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto
Michael Perrino, middle, 16, from Mashpee, Mass., is greeted by Miracle Flight employee Jeri Parker in the baggage claim area of McCarran International Airport on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019, in Las Vegas. Perrino was born with thrombocytopenia-absent radius (TAR) syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that left him without arms or knees. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto
Miracle Flight CEO Mark Brown, top/right, greets Misty Perrino and son Michael, 16, from Mashpee, Mass., in the baggage claim area at McCarran International Airport on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019, in Las Vegas. Michael Perrino was born with thrombocytopenia-absent radius (TAR) syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that left him without arms or knees. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto
Michael Perrino, 16, from Mashpee, Mass., shares a laugh with Miracle Flight employees in the baggage claim area of McCarran International Airport on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019, in Las Vegas. Perrino was born with thrombocytopenia-absent radius (TAR) syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that left him without arms or knees. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto
Miracle Flights staff talk with Michael Perrino, 16, and mom Misty, from Mashpee, Mass., in the baggage claim area of McCarran International Airport on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2019, in Las Vegas. Michael Perrino was born with thrombocytopenia-absent radius (TAR) syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that left him without arms or knees. (Benjamin Hager/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @benjaminhphoto
A charitable organization based in Las Vegas and a longtime beneficiary got together for the first time Tuesday.
Miracle Flights, which provides free plane tickets to help children reach specialized medical care far from home, greeted Michael Perrino, 16, and his family at McCarran International Airport. The Perrinos live in Mashpee, Massachusetts, about 65 miles south of Boston.
Born without arms or knees as a result of TAR syndrome, a rare genetic disorder, Michael has received Miracle Flights every six months for the past 10 years. But this was the first time Michael met with the flight team in Las Vegas.
On Wednesday, Michael will spend a few hours with Rob Mendez, this year’s ESPY recipient of the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance. Mendez, born without arms or legs, is a head coach of a junior varsity high school football team in California.
Michael will share his story Thursday night at Swings for Wings, Miracle Flights’ annual fundraiser at Topgolf Las Vegas.
