Bringing a newly adopted child home can be emotional and stressful. One couple flying home with their newly adopted infant daughter was going through this exact experience. But, upon learning the news mid-flight, their flight attendants and fellow passengers gave the new parents one sweet surprise.
In a thread on Twitter, Dustin Moore detailed the events of the flight. “It’s been a difficult week. But, rather than publicly air my grievances, I’d like to share with you the kindness strangers offered us the day we brought our daughter home,” he wrote on the thread. “Not too long ago, my wife and I boarded a Southwest Airlines flight with our recently adopted infant daughter. With clearance to return home to California, my wife carried our precious bundle, while I offered numerous apologies to passengers while maneuvering the aisle with four bags.”
He goes on to explain that his daughter needed to be changed mid flight. Thoughtfully, one of the flight attendants, Jenny, cleared a space in the back, creating a makeshift changing table, and gave the couple privacy. She and another passenger later complimented the baby girl.
“[They] politely asked what had prompted a flight with such a young infant. I gave them the shortened adoption story, to which they hastily offered congratulations, and shared a few more kind remarks,” he continued. “About 10 minutes later, another attendant (named Bobby) greeted us with a warm smile, and inquired about our daughter. We repeated the story and he congratulated us before walking away. My wife and I exchanged curious looks, but thought nothing more about it.
Then, we heard the intercom. The attendant Bobby came on and announced a special guest on the flight. Our daughter. ‘She’s just been adopted by her parents Caren and Dustin, and is making her way home.’ The entire cabin erupted in cheers and applause.”
Following the announcement, the crew passed out pens and napkins to the cabin for anyone who wanted to share some advice or encouragement. After the crew collected the 60 or so napkins, they read some of their favorites over the intercom, including, “Rub each other’s feet, and rub the baby’s feet; Make time for date night; Always tell her you love her; Enjoy every minute. It goes by so very fast; and Drink lots of wine!”
Bobby and Jenny then approached the couple with a set of pilot wings for their daughter. “We learned they were married, and that someone had done a similar act for them on their honeymoon flight. She thought it was a perfect opportunity to pay forward the kind act they had been shown on their honeymoon. Even as we disembarked, people kept approaching us and wishing us well, and complimenting our beautiful daughter. Our hearts were full.”
Now back at home, Caren and Dustin have saved the napkins, putting them into a photo album. “The outpouring of love from that flight, brought on by the actions of two thoughtfully observant flight attendants…it exceeds my ability to describe what it meant to us. How much those wings and written notes uplifted two new parents determined to love their new daughter.”
