Atlanta (TAN): A flight attendant employed with Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines recently showed how small acts of kindness can make the world a better place, and was lauded for it too.
Delta passenger Sonja Redding, travelling from Washington, D.C., to Atlanta in the United States, tried hard to keep her two kids happy so that they did not disturb the co-passengers.
While both kids suffer from a rare and incurable disease known as Methylmalonic Acidemia, the younger one, Xayvior, all of five, was also diagnosed with autism. Redding, along with her kids, was returning after a medical research trip in Washington, D.C.
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Xayvior started bothering Sonja while the flight was still mid-air, which was soon followed by screaming and hitting his mother.
That was when flight attendant Amanda Amburgy, whose seat was a few rows away, extended a caring hand.
“He was fine during boarding, but as soon as we took off his mood completely changed. I noticed he may have some trouble communicating his feelings,” said Amanda.
“Traveling can be hard even without kids and I know moments like this can be even really stressful for parents. I offered to take him up to the galley for a set of wings, which is my usual introduction when trying to calm down our younger passengers,” she added.
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Amanda, who volunteered with Special Olympics in high school, showed Xayvior him the blue lights over the overhead bins, and other passengers onboard, before bringing him back to his parents.
Sonja Redding, touched by Amanda’s compassion, took to Facebook to express her gratitude and share her experience. The post soon went viral.
Redding said how Amanda ‘just showed love and empathy without hesitation’, and ‘swooped him up, taking him on a tour of the plane’. She added that ‘we need more people like this in the world’.
Amanda, overwhelmed by the gesture, hoped the message would help people be more patient while travelling.
“People don’t always understand that their normal isn’t everyone else’s normal. This is this family’s normal,” she said.
“This exemplifies the Delta difference in every way. Service from the heart is what we’re all about and I’d like to thank Amanda and Delta employees around the globe for showing thoughtful service like this to the world,” said Delta’s Senior Vice President of in-flight service Allison Ausband.
