Minnesota Senior Federation member Don Frank of Little Fork is a family man who has never let his use of supplemental oxygen deter him from travel. However, when Don was told that he had no choice but to use private airlines' oxygen equipment and oxygen for hundreds of dollars in additional costs per flight, he knew that he would either have to cancel his future plans to visit family, or fight for his right to use his own oxygen equipment.

Due in part to Frank's lobbying efforts last year, the FAA approved use of certain personal oxygen concentrators on jet aircraft. Slowly but surely, most airlines are now willing to cooperate with this proposal, including Northwest and Mesaba airlines, which services out-state Minnesota.

There are rules that must be followed to use these concentrators. They are available at Koochiching County Health Services, 283-7070, for county residents or 800/950-4630 for out-of-county residents.

In garnering support for this initiative, Frank has been in constant communication with Rep. James Oberstar, Sen. Norm Coleman, former U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta and the American Association for Respiratory Care. His fight was for more then just Don Frank.

"I may never fly again," stated Frank, "but if one grandparent is able to see one grandchild because of this, it'll be all worth it."