Flight Story #1494
Fort Lauderdale, Florida → Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – $351.81 USD Cash – JetBlue
When Djamentha learned that her father was being moved to comfort care, she knew she needed to get to his side.
Her father, Dominique, had spent years living with epilepsy. After being admitted to the ICU when his condition worsened, he became unresponsive and dependent on a ventilator. Doctors believed there was significant brain damage and shared that they had done everything they could. The decision had been made to transition him to comfort care.
For Djamentha, the timing was urgent.
She explained that the medical team was waiting for her arrival before removing the ventilator and hoped she could be there to say goodbye.
But getting there was incredibly difficult.
Djamentha had been unable to work since 2023 because of her own health challenges and she had also been experiencing her own financial struggles while receiving medical treatment, leaving her without the means to afford a flight.
In her application, she described the special bond she shares with her father and a lesson from childhood that has stayed with her ever since.
“I remember being so scared to walk in the front door once when I was 7. There was a lizard blocking the doorway. I looked up at him afraid and told him, ‘I can’t.'”
His response became a lifelong source of strength.
“He knelt down and said, ‘Can’t is not in your vocabulary. You can do anything you set your mind to.'”
Djamentha wrote that she has carried those words with her through every challenge she has faced.
“My dad is where I get my work ethic, my love for learning, my love for action and horror movies, and my humor from.”
More than anything, she wanted him to know she was there.
“I love him so much, and I want him to feel that love next to him even if he can’t respond.”
Thanks to the generosity of Give A Mile donors, Djamentha received a compassionate flight to Pittsburgh, giving her the opportunity to be with her father during his final days. Together, they helped ensure she could be by his side when it mattered most.
After learning her flight had been approved, she sent a heartfelt message to the Give A Mile team:
“Thank you so much!!!”
A special thank you to our donors for helping make compassionate flights like this possible, and to every Give A Mile donor whose generosity helps families stay connected during life’s most difficult moments.
💙 You can help another family be together when it matters most. Donate miles or funds today. ✈