Escort Journal :

December 2008:

Margaret Whitehead, Director of the Children's Escort Program, reports that American Airlines' Flight Attendant, Masako Doi, escorts 9 year-old Gabriela home to makes Christmas Wishes come true.

Gabriela Goes Home in Time for Papa Noel's Visit.  

I got the call on Dec. 6. 

9 year-old Gabriela had just had

open heart surgery and would be ready to go home from NYC to San Pedro Sula on Dec. 22. However, because of heavy loads, I had put an embargo on escort trips beginning Dec. 17 until after the holidays. Could she possibly go before then? But then she would be only 2 weeks post op so she had to have a few more days in New Jersey to recuperate.

I told the agency, Honduran Gift of Life, that I didn't see how we could do the trip on the 22nd, but the response I got was that Gabriela would be heart broken if she couldn't go home for Christmas. So I got busy and, noticing that Masako Doi was off at that time, I sent her an e-mail to see how she felt about doing a trip so close to the holidays. Her response was "I think this little girl should be home for Christmas. It's my Christmas gift for her and her family. I'll plan on escorting her home on 22nd."  

Masako, Gabriela, and her family at the San Pedro Sula airport

This is so typical of Masako. I have never met anyone who is more compassionate and kind than Masako and she has proven this so many times over the years I've worked with her. She lives in Connecticut and commutes to ORD, almost always working the long haul trips and she has little time to call her own. However, she was so willing to give up a day of her own time just before Christmas to make sure Gabriela got home to her family in time for Papa Noel's visit. The trip went well, Gabriela and her family were thrilled to be reunited and Masako returned home late that night, tired but happy that she had been able to fulfill this little girl's dream of being home for Christmas.

Bravo...and so much gratitude to Margaret and Masako for making the Christmas dreams of an entire family come true!