Before boarding his plane a terminally ill New Zealand father travelling to the US for a life-saving cancer treatment left a heart-warming message for his supporters.
In the first of many video diaries to come, Kurt Brunton thanked the New Zealand public for giving him lift-off.
"Thank you guys, thank you for all your support, all of your messages. I've read all of the messages you've posted.
"They have just been amazing, they're so inspirational, so helpful and I'm so grateful to be able to read those."
Last night he departed Auckland Airport saying "goodbye for now" to his wife Janelle Brunton-Rennie and 1-year-old daughter Sage.