A North Texas family’s vacation started without a very important member, until American Airlines employees stepped in to help bring him home. American Airlines team members at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport reunited 4-year-old Patrick Webb of Fort Worth with his beloved teddy bear thi s week, after the stuffed animal was accidentally left behind in an airport lounge. The Webb family was preparing to depart for a trip to the Virgin Islands with their two kids when they realized Patrick’s cherished teddy bear, named “Bobby,” was missing just as their flight was about to take off. “We got in our seats and realized that we had left Bobby behind,” said Patrick’s dad, Joe Webb. “And we made an attempt to try to get him back before the flight took off, but it was tight. And then we just kind of didn’t know what to do.” The family, unable to leave the plane, reported the lost item to American Airlines. Employees quickly located Bobby in the Admirals Club lounge at DFW Airport, where the family had been waiting before boarding. Patrick has had the bear since he was a baby. He might look a little beat up, but his parents said it has been a constant companion on trips and in daily life. “He’s just been through a lot in a good way. He’s part of our family. The triplet out of the two,” said Patrick’s mother, Hollis Webb. With the toy safely recovered, American Airlines employees assured the family they would take care of Bobby until they returned home. Over the next week, airline staff kept in touch with the Webbs, sending updates and photos to show Patrick that his teddy bear was safe. “We were filling out the forms for Lost Found and we got a response back,” said Patrick’s mom, Hollis Webb. “And it had all these amazing pictures of what Bobby had been doing. And we were just so thankful that someone was taking care of him.” During his unexpected stay at DFW Airport, Bobby took on a playful new role as an “honorary” American Airlines team member. Employees documented Bobby’s time touring parts of the airport, including the airline’s hub control center, spending time on the ramp, helping with baggage operations and even greeting customers in the lounge. When the Webb family returned to North Texas, American Airlines employees were waiting at the gate for the reunion. Patrick ran to Bobby and hugged him, capping off what his family described as an emotional moment. “Just so thankful, I didn’t think someone would throw him away. But to have y’all treat him as lovingly as you did, which is just amazing,” said Hollis. To celebrate, the airline also surprised Patrick and his twin brother, William, with gift bags of coloring books, commemorative items and a special keepsake for Bobby– a “passport” documenting his weeklong adventure at the airport. ...read more read less