PELL CITY, AL---A once-in-a-lifetime experience for children with life-threatening illnesses--that's the purpose of a special flight that stopped by our area Sunday.

They call it an "air ship" but you probably know it as a "blimp." But, this one is a little different. It's giving children who are critically ill, a day with no worries.

High in the sky, more than a thousand feet above the ground, a blimp gives one family the chance to breathe.

"It means everything. We spent half our week this week in doctor's offices so to be able to come out today and not think about that, not worry about what we've got to do next week and to just enjoy it and see the kids smiling and having fun," said Beth Sewell, a mother from Trussville with two critically ill children.

One of her daughters has a congenital heart disease, while the other has a rare auto-immune disease.

But today, they got a once-in-a-lifetime adventure in the air.

"It was really exciting," said Elisa Sewell, the eldest daughter who suffers from the auto-immune disease that attacks her cartilage.

And while a life threatening disease can be trying on a 10-year-old, Elisa stays positive.

"It is tough. Sometimes I get upset, but what I always think about is, God doesn't give you too much. You can handle it. God does not give you what you cannot handle," said Elisa.

And the pilots that fly children like Elisa admit, that the air ship is the perfect distraction.

"Oh, I love it. It seems to kind of be the highlight for them. Maybe not just today, but maybe for a long time. So it kinda takes their mind off of some of the other things their thinking about,"said Bret Viets, blimp pilot.

The blimp ride truly is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The pilot who was operating the blimp rides today says there are only 22 blimps like that in the entire world!

The event was sponsored by Wind Creek Hotel & Casino and Believe In Tomorrow.