This Christmas, Barbara surprised her family and friends with a trip home to Portugal. The flight itself was meant to be a surprise, and even after delays caused her to miss a transfer, she managed to book a new flight and still make it home in time — keeping the Christmas magic alive.

Unfortunately, the bad luck didn’t stop there. On her way back, she left in the middle of the night to make sure she had a comfortable layover. When she arrived in Milan, her flight was delayed by six hours. Eventually, they took off toward Rovaniemi, Finland, but upon landing, the captain casually announced they were actually in a different country and couldn’t land due to the weather.

After such a long delay, people were understandably upset. The flight attendants advised passengers not to leave the plane and to fly back to Milan so they could be rebooked upon arrival. However, once back in Milan, everyone was told the flight was cancelled with no alternative offered.

Barbara had no choice but to book and pay for a new flight herself. Despite the financial strain and the extreme stress, she pushed through it all.

In the end, she spent over 40 hours traveling and waiting in airports.

Even the smallest donations are very welcome, but there is absolutely no pressure. Me and Nali will cover and split any remaining costs. This is simply a small, heartwarming way to show support after such an intense Christmas journey ❤️