Escort Stories

Ruth Matranga, American Airlines Flight Attendant,

escorts 2-year-old Xu, from Shanghai to the States. 

In a letter to Nancy Rivard, Ruth explains that a team

joined together to comfort little Xu on his long journey.

Please read Ruth's letter and reflections, in Escort Journal, here...

Terri Bobbitt, American Airlines Flight Attendant,

escorted Olwitch from Atlanta back to Haiti

Please read Terri's Journal

Joy Groseth's Escort Report:

Joy Groseth, American Airlines LAX Flight Attendant,

brought Kevin Campos, 13, from San Salvador to Portland
for heart surgery. Joy reports that all went well and the traveling went smoothly. She explained, "It was a real pleaure. Kevin is a polite and wonderful kid." 

Joy sends her best to Kevin as he undergoes the upcoming procedures. Airline Ambassadors thanks Joy for sharing her story and time with Kevin and the rest of us!

Please visit Joy's Photo Gallery Page...

Deborah Quigley's Escort Report:

"My participation in Sithan's journey was as her escort from Hawaii to Cambodia, thanks to the NGO that I volunteer with: www.airlineamb.org  (Airline Ambassadors International) and United Airlines - the company that I work for. As more people learn about HOW easy it is to contribute - just by donating miles from their "'mileage bank"' to United's Miles for Charity - then Airline Ambassador volunteers - like me - can escort more children who need to get medical care in the United States. 

Thank you for helping me get the word out. If Sithan needs to return to Hawaii in the future then I will be most willing and thrilled to come get her. She was a great traveling companion!"

Read more about Sithan's challenges and hurdles in the Honolulu Star Bulletin.  Visit Deborah's Photo Gallery here...

Sithan Leam, right, thanked Shriners Hospital

Nurse Care Coordinator Bonnie Paulsen

for taking care of her during her recuperation

from surgery at Shriners in the past year.

Chris Henkel's Escort Report:

American Airlines Flight Attendant, Chris Henkel, took little Sam back to Vietnam after he received a prosthetic lower leg and foot.  She shared her experience by saying, " Sam was such a good boy. He was such a hit with both the American Airlines and Japan Airlines flight crews. Everyone knew who he was...he has such a great personality. He loved playing with all the buttons in the cockpit. I had several people come up to me and say how good he was. He was entertaining everyone at the Tokyo airport by asking them for the keys!  A lot of people made this trip happen! Sam is really going to miss Betsy and the whole Bernard family (his host family)...he asked about them all the time during our flights."  In Detroit, Chris and Sam spent the night before they left with a host family and in Vietnam Chris stayed with Sam's biological family.

Please visit Chris' Photo Gallery...

Hester Fleck's Escort Report:

Hester Fleck recently escorted little 6 year old, Zhang Zhenqiang, after corrective open heart surgery. He was brought to the US by Chinese Agape. Hester said that when they exited Beijing customs, "he saw his parents and went running into their arms - a very sweet, well behaved little guy."

Captain Patti Jedrey's Escort Report:

Captain Patti Jedrey escorts Emily from Guatemala to Seattle.

Jane Harris' & Susie Amstutz's Escort Report:

Miguel, 14, needed medical care and Jane and Susie, from Delta Airlines, team-up to escort him from San Pedro Sula to Atlanta and from Atlanta to Seattle!

Susie wrote: "All went smoothly for Miguel in San Pedro Sula! He is the sweetest boy and it was a great experience! Got him to Jane and my prayers are that all goes well. His attitude is something we should all have even a glimmer of hope for."

Jane wrote: "Thank you for giving me the opportunity to escort Miguel to Seattle. It all went very smoothly. I was just sorry that I did not take a winter coat along for him. I did pack a bag of games for him. He had only a back pack and nothing else. One more life experience to let us know how truly blessed we are!"  

Our heartfelt thanks to Jane and Susie!  To see more pictures, visit...

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