Baby

Volunteer helps father and newborn after they were denied flight home

Rubin Swift was bringing his four-day-old daughter home to Ohio when he was denied boarding at the gate due to the child's age.

Rubin had all the documentation needed and even had a note from doctors stating that Ru-Andria was cleared to fly. He had even called Frontier Airlines ahead to ask what documents were required for his daughter.

However, when Rubin reached the gate he was told that his daughter had to be at least seven days old, and he was denied boarding. 

But when Rubin asked for his money back, he was informed that it would take seven days for the refund to go through.

With no money and nowhere to stay, the father and newborn were stranded.

So he did the only thing he could think of: he called Joy Ringhofer, a volunteer from the hospital who had helped care for his daughter.

Without hesitation, Joy told Rubin that she would pick him up and bring him home.

"I didn’t expect her to say, ‘I’m coming to get you and take you home,’ Rubin said to AZ Family. 

"So, I’m thinking, ‘She is going to drive me back to Cleveland’ but she actually brought me to her house and feeding me and making sure my baby is alright."

Rubin and his daughter stayed with Joy for three days – until the little one was able to fly.

"I had such a strong feeling that I needed to do this for him," Joy said.

"I know he was a kind and safe man to have in my home and he has been a perfect gentleman."

Grateful for her generosity, Swift is now even calling her the grandmother of his daughter, and promised that he would be back for a visit. 

"He promised to come back and visit me, and let me see her again. I'm looking forward to that."

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