Escort Journal :

October 2009:

Mark Howell and Yamba share a trip they will never forget!

Mark and Yamba:

I had the honor of escorting Yamba from Columbus, Ohio to the DFW airport.  This was my first time to escort a child through the Child Escort Program with Airline Ambassodors. 

I was a little nervous, but when I met Yamba at the Columbus airport, my fears disappeared.  He is 8 years old and from Africa. 

Yamba was in Columbus, for 13 months, at a hospital where he had leg surgery.  When he arrived in Columbus he couldn't walk or speak English.  Well, he walked with me onto that airplane and spoke English very well. 

I could not sit next to Yamba, because the flight was full, but I was able to check on him and the people around Yamba were very nice.  He had plenty to do on the 2 hour flight, and even took a little nap.  When we arrived at the DFW airport he wanted to walk all over the place.  We had to take the Skylink between terminals, and when we arrived at Terminal D, I gave him to the next child escort, who then flew with him to Paris, France.  I am so thankful to have shared a little time with Yamba, he was an inspiration to all who met him.

Mark Howell

Mark, thank you for watching over Yamba, and thank you for sharing your beautiful story!