Sergeant Major Dan Campbell and his wife Heather experienced many uncertainties when their nine-year old son, Isaac, was diagnosed with a subglottic stenosis, or narrowing of the airway which would require a major surgery. Stationed in remote Alaska, they wondered how to keep the family together for the nearly 2,500-mile journey for his medical care.

“The only thing that is constant for us is us,” Heather said. “Our location changes, whether daddy is home changes, our friends, church, our community, everything about our life is transient. The only thing that is constant is the ability of the five of us to be together.”

Mom of three, Heather explained how important it was for them to be together as a family during Isaac’s surgery and how imperative she felt it was to his recovery.

However, flights from Eielson Airforce Base Alaska to Tacoma, Washington are costly. The Campbells were able to use patient travel to cover the cost of one parent and their son, but that would leave one parent and their two other children behind, that’s when Hero Miles stepped in.

Fisher House Foundation’s Hero Miles program provides round-trip tickets to wounded, injured or ill service members and/or their families who are undergoing treatment at a military or VA medical center. These flights are made possible through frequent flyer mile donations made by generous individual airline passengers. Since the program began in 2004, Hero Miles has provided over 93,000 tickets to military families, like the Campbells.

“The home stress is very high trying to prepare for a move and I have a son who can’t speak for two months,” Heather said. “The process of working with Fisher House Foundation and the Hero Miles Program was the only smooth part. It was so simple, and it was done for me. It was the one thing I could take off my brain space so that I could focus on caring for my son.”

Two months later, Isaac now has his full voice back and Heather says she is happy to have some of the family chaos back.

“Watching the kids play together in the hospital playroom while Isaac recovered, that was the best moment. Knowing we were all able to be together,” Heather said.

She further expressed that Hero Miles is a great way to give back that doesn’t cost anything. Simple donate your unwanted miles and it can make a big difference in the lives of a military family.

“Words cannot express my gratitude or convey the burden Hero Miles lifted during my stressful time. Being together meant everything to my family.”