Escort Journal :

January 2009:

Part 2 of Piki's Journey --

Piki, age 4, from the Dominican Republic, returns home following surgery.

This time, Piki entertained two escorts, American Airlines' Captain, Patti Jedrey, who brought him from Seattle to Miami and American Airlines' flight attendant, Tee Allred, who accompanied him on to Santo Domingo.

Tee shares:

"I have to say that for all these years I have met many children, and loved them all, but Piki is a very special little boy. He made me laugh the whole time we were together.

For example, there was a little boy about 2 yrs. old who kept screaming and just being unreasonable. Then Piki said to me "baby screaming. No good. Piki's not screaming. Piki's not a baby, Piki is a boy". He speaks English quite well and is very handsome. I hope that I will get to see little Piki again."

Margaret Whitehead, Director of the Children's Escort Program, reports that "Tee probably will have an opportunity to escort Piki again because he will be returning to St. Louis in the summer for more surgery on his legs and for refitting of his prosthetic legs. His legs were congenitally malformed and it was necessary to amputate them below the knees so that he would be able to walk with prostheses."

Thank you, Margaret, Captain Jedrey, and Tee!