A flight of compassion

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It’s not often you catch people doing something more than “the right thing….” especially on an airplane.  It doesn’t even fall in the category of “doing the right thing” because it was more.  I don’t know the word for it, but it certainly fall in line with “selfless compassion” and “sacrifice.”  

Last night, I witnessed it.  And it was special.

I was in Portland for the past couple days for my work.  On the way home yesterday afternoon, it was a full flight.  The captain came on the speaker and said we were 500 pounds overweight and said they were “working on it.”  “Working on it” ultimately meant 6 passengers were asked to get off the plane.

One of those passengers was a woman across the aisle, one row back.  She had her 13 month old baby girl on her lap.  You could tell the small seat of the Horizon flight was uncomfortable at best, for the 2 of them.  But she was happy to be on her way home.

This young mother had just finished up yet another visit with the Shriner’s hospital, visiting plastic surgeons who were working on giving her baby fingers.  The little girl had a rare birth defect.  Essentially fibers had wrapped around this precious child’s body like rubber bands, leaving her somewhat disfigured…and she was missing all her fingers on one hand and at least one on the other that I could tell.  She said when the baby was born, the nurse said to her “Do you still want to see her?” – as though the mother wouldn’t want her because she was so disfigured. Are you kidding!?!?!

Her trip to Portland been a long, tiring, and tense trip.  They traveled alone.

So, you might imagine what went through her head when her name was called, and she was asked to deplane.  As she tried to gather all her belongings (if you’ve ever traveled with an infant, you know what I’m talking about!!) and make her way out of the plane, I saw the tears welling up in her eyes. 

A few minutes later, the gentleman who’d been sitting next to this young mom flagged down the flight attendant.  I heard him ask “Is she going to be able to get back on the plane?”

“No,” came the reply from the flight attendant.

“Is there any way I could take her place?” Asked the man.

“Do you mean…you want to let her have your seat and you’d get off the plane?” Remarked the stewardess in disbelief.

“Yes – is that possible?” Asked the man.

“You would do that?  (gasp) I’ll find out….She was in tears when she got off the plane” And with that, the flight attendant (who herself had started crying) zipped to the front of the plane. 

Within moments, the flight attendant was back – in tears, trying to hold it together, letting him know he could get off the plane. 

Soon, the mother was back on the plane with her sweet baby girl, wiping away the tears….obviously overcome by one single act of kindness of a stranger.  In talking with this mom, I sensed that random kindness hasn’t been something she’s experienced much of…  She has had a hard life in more ways than I can share here. 

I don’t know how hard of a decision that was for that man.  I don’t know if he had a family at home, commitments to make, or what his situation was at that given moment.  What I do know is that he made a positive impact in the life of someone else.  I also know he didn’t do it for recognition by anyone…  But there were several of us sitting nearby who noticed.

It wasn’t necessarily the “right decision” as much as it was one filled with compassion, sacrifice and love for a fellow human being. 

Pay it forward.

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Filed under Random Thoughts, Travel, life

Tags: airplanes, Boise, Compassion, Idaho, love, Oregon, people, Portland