The mission and purpose of Air Compassion International is "...to provide charitable airline travel for poor and indigent foreign patients to access specialized lifesaving medical care available only in the U.S.”

An Irish proverb says, "It is in the shelter of each other that the people live."

In the shelter of many caring groups and individuals, Elyn C., a 12-year-old boy with a hole in his heart, received life. Elyn and his family live in the Dominican Republic. He was born with a heart defect that left him so weak he couldn't run or play or attend school.

Through Air Compassion International, Elyn was able to fly for free to Albany, N.Y., for an operation performed by a leading pediatric cardiac surgeon, Dr. Neil Devejian. Medical expenses were paid by Rotary International's Gift of Life program. Though no one from his family could accompany him, Karen Carroll, a missionary in the Dominican Republic, traveled with Elyn to Albany and stayed with him at the Ronald McDonald House until after his surgery.

The operation was successful and Elyn's recovery called miraculous. Dr. Devejian said the hole in the boy's heart was so large "he should have died in infancy."

Before long Elyn was running around (for the first time in his life) and talking non-stop. "Our little boy is doing fantastic. He's improved emotionally and socially, too...He plays video games and hide and seek. He's a miracle child," said Debbie.

Air Compassion International was a big part of the miracle.