Since 1988, Flint and Jackie Robertson have been traveling to MD Anderson Hospital at least once every five years. Flint has always driven his wife back and forth on this trip, but due to a triple by-pass, he is not able to drive her to her latest appointment, which is scheduled for this week. Jackie also hurt her back recently and driving for long distances is extremely painful for her.

Enter Pilots for Patients.

Pilots for Patients is a Louisiana-based, nonprofit organization that is dedicated to providing free air transportation to people in need of medical assistance. The organization is based in Monroe and to date has made 322 flights, taking people in the area to and from medical treatment facilities.

“My daughter-in-law, Hope Barr Robertson, is the one who had the idea of me contacting the Pilots for Patients Program,” said Jackie. “She and my daughter, Patricia, are the ones who got the ball rolling on this.”

The Robertsons were put in touch with Tara Milby, the mission coordinator for the program, and she explained what would be needed in order for Jackie to be flown to Houston.

“At first, I thought we were just too fortunate to be able to participate in this,” said Flint. “But Tara explained to me the only criteria was that the patient had to be stable and able to climb into a small aircraft and sit upright for the flight.” The patient’s doctor must also sign a letter before a flight can be scheduled.

Patricia, who is a school teacher in Austin, came home for a few week’s visit with her parents and is accompanying her mother on the trip.

“I am just so thankful for this program and for the kind people who we have been working with through it,” Patricia said. “It means so much to me that we’re able to take advantage of this.”

“The Robertsons definitely want to pay this forward any way we can,” Patricia said.

“The pilot for our flight is actually a doctor and he called us today to tell us how excited he is to be able to do this for us,” said Flint.

Milby, who is also a Morehouse Parish native and a pilot, said as soon as she heard who the pilot would be, she contacted Brent Elton at the Morehouse Memorial Airport to see about the flight starting there.

“Dr. William Runyon was the pilot for the trip and he was flying in from Fort Worth, Texas, and the Robertsons lived here, so I thought we could utilize our airport and make it more comfortable for Mrs. Jackie,” said Milby. “A lot of our patients live in Monroe, so the flights generally are out of there, and I thought this would be great for the Morehouse Airport because it is such an asset to the community.”

“Our pilots donate their time, expenses and airplanes for this service and do not ask for anything in return,” Milby continued. “We currently have 67 volunteer pilots from all over the state as well as some from Texas, but we are always looking for pilots with big hearts to be a part of our program.”

Dr. Runyon, who lives in Fort Worth, was recently nominated by the program as their Distinguished Volunteer Pilot for the 2009 National Public Benefit Flying Award.

“He has been such a great pilot to work with,” said Milby. “He has, at times, came and picked up a patient in Monroe, flew them to Houston and turned around and brought another patient back to Monroe in the same day. That really says something about him.”

Elton, who recently took over the job as manager of the airport, was also excited to have the plane come to Bastrop and pick up the Robertsons.

“We have a great airport here in Bastrop and this is just what it was meant for -- to serve the people of our community,” said Elton. “It is not just here for pilots and airplanes, but to serve the local citizens as well.”

The plane to take Jackie and Patricia arrived at the Morehouse Memorial Airport at 2:15 Tuesday afternoon and the Robertsons were greeted by the President/CEO of Pilots for Patients, Philip M. Thomas. He escorted them, along with Milby, to the plane, where they met their Dr. Runyon.

“Let me have a hug,” Jackie told him.

To which he replied, “That’s exactly what my fee is!”

As the trio were leaving, Flint told Thomas that this was nothing for Jackie to ride in a small plane; last year on her birthday, she went parasailing.

He also thanked Thomas for the trip and again expressed his gratitude to be able to participate in the program.

“This is a ministry,” said Thomas. “We are not just providing for patients, we are also helping people.”

“We are just so blessed,” Flint said.