Airline Ambassadors trip to Paris Ile-de-France

I’ll never forget the day I held little Florence in my arms as we flew her across the ocean toward a new life.

I had been chosen to join an Airline Ambassadors mission through the Children’s Miracle Network. The assignment: escort two young girls from Burkina Faso, Africa, to Columbus, Ohio, where they would receive life-changing surgeries. Antoinette, the older girl, struggled with severe bowlegs. Florence, just a baby, was born with a cleft palate.

Before we met the girls, our crew spent two days in Paris, soaking in the sights and culture.

But the trip shifted from tourist adventure to something much deeper the moment we were introduced to Antoinette and Florence. At first, we thought that Tara would care for Florence and I would care of Antoinette, however Tara paired naturally with Antoinette—her French allowed them to bond quickly, while I was able to comfort Florence. She cried anytime I put her down or if she went with anyone else. She nestled into me, drinking her bottle peacefully, her tiny hands clutching my shirt. It was my first glimpse of a parental love I didn’t yet know I had in me.

One of the things we learned was that Florence’s grandparents believed she was cursed because of her cleft palate. They had planned to abandon her in the desert. Her mother, desperate to save her, sought help. That desperate call reached the Children’s Miracle Network, then Airline Ambassadors, and finally, me and Tara.

Flying those girls across the Atlantic wasn’t just another trip, it was a mission of hope. Seeing Florence warm to me reminded me that love and care can bridge entire worlds.

That experience prepared me for parenthood in ways I couldn’t have imagined. It taught me that sometimes the greatest gift you can give isn’t just your skills as a flight attendant, but your heart.

In August of that year, I got an update from her host family that Florence was doing much better and happily with her farmily. 

If you’re a flight attendant, I encourage you to visit airlineamb.org and consider volunteering. It’s more than a trip, it’s a chance to change lives, including your own.