Apology for mother with ichthyosis who was kicked off a plane 6park.com
By Dannielle Maguire 6park.com
 6park.com
Posted21 hours ago, updated10 hours ago 6park.com
IMAGEJackson Flake was born with the same skin condition as his mother.(Facebook: Jordan Flake) 6park.com
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An airline has apologised after removing a US mother and her baby son from a flight because of their genetic skin condition. 6park.com
Key points:
Ms Flake says she was asked to leave the flight after being asked for a note from her doctorThe airline has since apologised over the incident and says it will refund the tripAustralian author Carly Findlay says it is disappointing people with ichthyosis have to be "on guard" for situations such as this
Jordan Flake boarded a domestic American Airlines flight as per usual, having no problems checking in or making it through security. 6park.com
"Before take-off a man — an employee called on flight to handle the situation — came up to my row and asked the two men sitting next to me to get up," Ms Flake wrote in a Facebook post. 6park.com
"He then quietly asked me about 'my rash' and if I had a letter from a doctor stating it was OK for me to fly." 6park.com
Ms Flake and her son were both born with ichthyosis, a genetic condition which is associated with dry, thickened skin. 6park.com
According to the Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne, ichthyosis can involve dead cells shedding at a rate slower than those who do not have the condition, leading to a build-up of cells on the top, dry layer. 6park.com
Other variations of the condition see the production of skin cells occurring too slowly, which results in too much water being lost from the skin. 6park.com
Ichthyosis is not contagious and is not caused by infection. 6park.com
VIDEOMs Flake speaks about her skin condition on her YouTube channel.
"I [have never] had a problem on a flight from passenger, employee, or crew previously," Ms Flake told the ABC. 6park.com
"I've never had to show proof as it's not required unless you are carrying liquid medication in your carry-on over the 3oz limit." 6park.com
Ms Flake said that, despite telling crew members about her condition, she was still asked to leave the plane by the apologetic crew member and arrived home a day later than she had expected. 6park.com
IMAGEMs Flake says she explained her condition to the airline crew, but she was still asked to leave.(Facebook: Jordan Flake)
She wrote about her experience on story-sharing platform Love What Matters, which was shared more than 6,500 times. 6park.com
"Quit being ignorant and take the time to listen to people," she said. 6park.com
"I shouldn't have to explain myself. 6park.com
"I have never been so humiliated in my life!" 6park.com
It sparked a response from American Airlines, with a spokesperson telling Inc. magazine the airline had launched an investigation into the incident. 6park.com
"We sincerely apologise to Ms Flake and her son for the experience they had…" the airline's statement read. 6park.com
"Our Customer Relations team has already spoken to her directly and upgraded them on their flights. 6park.com
"We will also be refunding the cost of her trip as well." 6park.com
Always prepared for discrimination
Carly Findlay, an Australian writer who also lives with ichthyosis, said situations such as the one Ms Flake found herself in were all too common. 6park.com
"I don't actually have any issues with domestic flights … I've only been asked about my skin once in my life domestically," she said. 6park.com
"They wondered if I need any assistance and asked if I was OK to fly … it wasn't rude or anything. 6park.com
"But every time I travel overseas I have to be more prepared and on guard. 6park.com
"I get a letter from a doctor about the medication I'm taking. 6park.com
"It also lists what my condition is, that I'm not contagious, that I don't have fingerprints, which can be difficult at customs." 6park.com
She sends these documents to the airlines and carries a print-out with her on international flights. 6park.com
But sometimes all this is not enough. 6park.com
Back in 2014, Ms Findlay was left in tears after a US airport customs officer was convinced her prescription cream was "bomb-making equipment", suspecting her of using counterfeit pharmacy labels on the box. 6park.com
IMAGEFindlay, who also has ichthyosis, has experienced similar discrimination.(Supplied: Camille Condon)
Another time, she was left wondering if she was going to be stranded in Abu Dhabi, where airport staff questioned her during a stopover. 6park.com
Her medical documents were in her bag, which she was prevented from getting to, with the situation made more difficult due to the language barrier. 6park.com
Thankfully, an English-speaking doctor was brought in to clear up the confusion. 6park.com
While the Flakes' story has people talking about ichthyosis, Ms Findlay worries about the impact it will have on children with the condition. 6park.com
"Discriminatory incidents like this scare young people in the ichthyosis community — what if it happens to them?" 6park.com
"It's sad that someone has to be a lesson for this to not happen again." 6park.com
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An exhausting emotional load
Findlay said people with rare conditions such as hers shouldn't have to be on guard all the time. 6park.com
"You never quite know when you're going to encounter this," she said. 6park.com
"There's such a fear of difference and perhaps with the outbreaks of measles and other contagious things … there is a reason for fear. 6park.com
"But if the person knows about their condition and they provide advice — believe that." 6park.com
She wrote about travelling experiences in her book, Say Hello, telling the ABC she held off writing about it on her blog out for fear of backlash online. 6park.com
Findlay said the burden on people with rare diseases and disabilities to explain their appearance to strangers could be exhausting. 6park.com
"There's an expectation of us to be polite and take it with a smile," she said. 6park.com
"We can't always do that."