The mission was to fly 13-year-old Ryan Cotter and his mum Karen to Sydney for treatment for a chronic condition that threatens the teen's life.

On top of all the stress of making sure Ryan could get to the airport for his important flight, Karen and Ryan’s father, Byron, received 10cm of water through their Pallamallawa home.

The family lost a lot of sentimental items including antiques and collectables Mr Cotter had been keeping since he was 15.

“The place is insured but we can’t get the sentimental stuff back,” Mr Cotter said. “We are all safe and well which is the main thing,” he said.

Yesterday’s journey was the 20th mission for Ryan and the 76th for Mr Bullard. Technically it would be 75 once he reached Sydney as the pilot also stopped at Walgett on the way to pick up another patient.

Mr Bullard had to be airlifted by the SES to Moree on Tuesday.

His Garah home has been completely surrounded by flood water.

The same measures were put in place for the Cotters but the road had reopened by the time they needed to get to Moree.

“We are so thankful for the work of Angel Flight and also Earth Angels who get us to and from the hospital once we get there,” Mrs Cotter said. “I don’t think people realise how much they do. We would be lost without them,” she said.

Ryan’s parents knew early in his childhood that something was wrong but were repeatedly told it was just ‘growing pains’.

But their love and persistence to help their son paid off and when he was about 10 years old they were told he had a rare form of neurofibromatosis.

“His prognosis is not good. He knows all about it because of how careful he has to be,” Mrs Cotter said.

She said they had many hurdles in the fight to find Ryan’s diagnosis.

“If we hadn’t perservered we wouldn’t be where we are today,” she said. “Not knowing would be worse; at least

now we can take precautions and prolong it as much as we can.”

In an effort to help Ryan, he has to have regular reviews and treatment at Westmead Children’s Hospital that always mean a stay of at least 10 days, as well as monthly checks with their local doctor.

With such a complex range of appointments it is obvious that if these were missed it would be devastating for the family and difficult to rearrange in a hurry.

So, when they awoke to find their home flooded, Ryan’s welfare was the first thing on their minds.

“It was such a shock stepping out of bed into ankle-deep water and the most important thing we had to do was get Ryan out,” Mrs Cotter said.