TRAVERSE CITY, MI -- Monday on 7&4 News, we told you about a U.S. soldier who rushed home on Christmas day to see his sick mother.

John Lidster is currently serving in South Korea. His mother is on life support at Munson Medical Center in Traverse City. It cost Lidster $2,800 to get back to home to visit his mom. 

While the American Red Cross was able to help him get the money, he will have to pay it back in the next six months.

However, he does not pay back the American Red Cross.

The money is actually a government loan.

A spokesman with the Red Cross said they simply help speed up the process so soldiers can access loans within 24 hours.

Without the Red Cross, it would take more than two weeks for the soldiers to be able to receive the government loan.