It was September last year when Ashlee Swaney called on the American Red Cross of South Carolina for help communicating with her husband that their twin boys were about to arrive seven weeks early. Trevor Swaney was stationed at Fort Campbell in Kentucky, more than six hours away at the time, and thanks to speedy communications through the Red Cross, he was able to be with his wife shortly after the birth of his two newest children.

And that wasn't the first time the Swaneys called on the Red Cross to reunite their family for the birth of a child. A few years earlier, Ashlee used the same Red Cross communication links to bring Trevor home from Korea just three days after his daughter's birth.

"It's amazing because of the short response time; he was able to be picked up from the airport as we were leaving the hospital," said Ashlee on describing the process of initiating an emergency communication. "We left the hospital truly as a family of five, whole and complete bringing our daughter home together, which was something we didn't think would be possible under the best of circumstances."

Within 15 minutes, the Red Cross had verified the event with the Swaney's hospital, the message was successfully delivered to Trevor's unit, then to Trevor, and an hour after that, he was waiting on standby for a plane to return home to the United States.

"We've really appreciated having the Red Cross and knowing that when unexpected situations arise, I can get in contact with him during an emergency. We've used the Red Cross on other occasions that were not for the birth of a child—that were not as happy of an experience, but still a necessity nonetheless," Ashlee added. "My husband lost both of his grandparents this year due to COVID, and last year he lost his mom while he was 15 hours away. I always know that no matter what he's doing, no matter what I'm doing, or what's happening in our lives, the Red Cross is going to make sure we stay connected in the important times."

During this April's Month of the Military Child, support provided to military families and their children is more important than ever. Military families rely on the Red Cross for a multitude of services such as emergency communications, pre-deployment preparedness for families, virtual mental wellness courses, and reconnection workshops.

"The Red Cross has been a staple in our lives. It's incredible to know that there are so many services available," said Ashlee. "We would not have the memories we do without the Red Cross, and we're very thankful for them for making sure that while he's serving his country, he is able to serve his family as well."

To learn more about Service to the Armed Forces and the programs and support available for military families, please visit RedCross.org/SAF.

About the American Red Cross: 
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.