Aviation for Women - September/October 2010

that if I could just remove the logistical worries for the par-
ents then they could focus on their kids and not deal with the
nightmares of transporting a family of six to Texas. I gathered
my thoughts and I called Declan’s dad, Stan. Never in my life
have I had a conversation so short yet so moving. I was talk-
ing to a stranger who I felt like I knew from his blog and offer-
ing to help. Stan just couldn’t express in
words what the outpouring of support
his family has received means to them.
By the end of the week, Corporate An-
gel Network (CAN) had generously ar-
ranged for a business aviation jet for the
entire family plus grandma and a sit-
ter to get them from Dulles to Houston.
CAN arranges free air transportation
for cancer patients traveling to treat-
ment using the empty seats on corpo-
rate jets. Then, the good people at Sig-
nature Flight Support sent the boys off
from Dulles with amazing gift baskets to keep them occupied
in flight. When they landed another friend’s company had
a van and driver to meet the jet on the Houston FBO ramp.
Through the power of business aviation, the entire trip from
Virginia to Texas took less than five hours hospital to hospi-
tal. The family was so happy and grateful to the business avi-
ation community for giving so much to them in words and ac-
tions. Declan’s parents were relieved that traveling with such
a sick baby was made so easy with his comfort as the priority.
And then it got even better. Companies started calling me,
individuals, and friends of friends who heard that the family
needed Marriott Rewards Points donated to help cover their
eight-week stay in Texas. Marriott was so flooded with calls
to transfer points that they assigned donors to Declan’s fam-
ily a special number to call with a dedicated person to handle
their account. Other companies offered
airline miles, American Express points.
Another colleague then called and said
that the owner of a jet she managed was
happy to donate his jet to get the entire
family back home after treatment in
Texas was finished.
I am not sharing all of this so that you
can think I am good person. I did not
get involved in all of this because my
ego needed a boost. What caught my
heart was that on any given day, any of
our lives can change and we might be
the ones in need. I am so proud to be a part of the business
aviation community. Aviation is a small world of individu-
als who show with their actions the size of their hearts. You
can learn more about the Corporate Angel Network at www.
corpangelnetwork.org. You can learn more about Declan and
his family at http://declansjourney.com. ✈
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Joanne M. Damato (WAI #6829) is a mom, pilot and Director,
Operations and Educational Development for NBAA.
CAN arranges free air
transportation for
cancer patients
traveling to treatment
using the empty seats
on corporate jets.

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