Waiting expectantly on the tarmac, the two women from Air Compassion America watched for the Cessna 340 air ambulance to land with its fragile cargo, a 66-year-old stroke victim and Navy veteran named John.

Robin Cron coordinates the missions for Air Compassion America. She and Suzanne Rhodes, the director of public affairs, were there to meet John and his daughter, Sherry Huhn. The pair was coming from St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany, New York to Virginia Beach on November 4, where John would be transported by ground ambulance to River Point Rehab.

Jill Adam is John’s niece, a social worker in Tennessee who has been actively involved in her uncle’s medical arrangements. She explained that Hampton Roads is home to him and that he had decided to retire in Virginia Beach after his last military assignment in Norfolk. Sherry also lives in Virginia Beach. She had flown up to Albany so as to escort her dad home.

Jill said that this past September, John and his wife, Tessie, were in New York for a reunion of his Navy buddies when he had a stroke right in the hotel lobby. He was taken to St. Peter’s and stabilized, then later was transferred to a rehab unit. “He was scheduled to fly home on October 24,” Jill said, “but on the Friday before, he had another stroke.” She said Air Compassion America made it possible for him “to come home. He couldn’t have otherwise.” That is because ACAM saved the family thousands of dollars. “I called four other air ambulance companies,” Jill explained. “The prices were from $13,000 to “$26,000. We’re paying $5,630, and that’s for bed-to-bed. Robin couldn’t have provided any higher standard of care.”

At last the plane landed, and Robin and Suzanne watched as medical workers carefully lifted the stretcher and patient out of the cabin and into the waiting ambulance. Other than John needing oxygen, the flight was uneventful—except for the moment of landing, when John received a kiss on his cheek from his relieved and grateful daughter. That’s what Air Compassion America is all about.