Though it can be easy to get up in the daily struggles of life, it pays to be aware of the little things we do for one another.
No matter where we stand in life, most of us go through many of the same obstacles and challenges. Things like going to the store for groceries, going to work every day or making it through the airport when we need to travel. Even when we get through customs and are safely on the plane, the flight itself isn’t usually particularly comfortable—especially if you’re a mother with a baby.
Fortunately, sometimes instances like these are made easier by kind strangers.
The story began when Kelsey Zwick was scheduled to take a flight on American Airlines with her 11-month-old daughter.
The flight was from Orlando, Florida to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a flight that takes about two and a half hours. Although traveling with a child that young is a challenge all in itself, it was made all the more difficult because Zwick was traveling with a a big diaper bag and an oxygen machine for her daughter, who was born prematurely.
As it turns out, an act of kindness was about to make their flight that much easier!
After she settled into her seat in economy, a flight attendant made her way back into the cabin up to Zwick and her daughter.
She told Zwick that there was a male passenger in first class who wondered if she and her daughter might not be more comfortable in the front of the plane? Shocked by the offer, Zwick was quickly shedding tears of gratitude! “I’m just standing there looking at him, crying just saying, ‘thank you,’” she said. “He just quietly was smiling so big and was like, ‘you’re welcome.’”
Just like that, the two switched seats and the rest of the flight passed without incident.
When the plane landed, Zwick wanted to speak to the kind stranger who had helped her and tried waiting for him at the gate.
Still, somehow the two missed each other while they were de-boarding the plane. As she started to leave the airport, she still felt a strong need to have a conversation with the man. To try and reach out to him more efficiently, Zwick decided to post a long message on Facebook about it. It read:
“To the man in 2D. Today you were traveling from Orlando to Philly. I don’t know you, but I imagine you saw us somewhere. I was pushing a stroller, had a diaper bag on my arm and also lugging an oxygen machine for my daughter. We had smiles on our faces as we were headed to see her “friends” at CHOP (Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia). We pre-boarded the plane, got cozy in our window seat and made jokes to those around us about having to sit by my yelling-but-happy baby. The flight attendant came over and told me you were waiting to switch seats. You were giving up your comfortable, first class seat to us.
Not able to hold back tears, I cried my way up the aisle while my daughter Lucy laughed! She felt it in her bones too… real, pure, goodness. I smiled and thanked you as we switched but didn’t get to thank you properly.”
Shortly after Zwick had shared the post, it started circulating around the web like wildfire.
As of today, the post has been shared more than 500,000 times on Facebook and has been covered by all kinds of online media outlets!
As a result of the media attention, the airline finally connected Zwick and her mysterious benefactor! The man in question was Jason Kunselman. After that, Kunselman was interviewed by Inside Edition to share his thoughts on the entire encounter:
“She said thank you and said, ‘I know I didn’t get to thank you in a proper way,’ . . . and that we need more kindness like I showed to her in the world.”
Above all, Kunselman said that exchanging seats with Zwick and her daughter was simply the right thing to do.
While this story may seem like just one small incident, it meant a world of difference to Zwick and her daughter! Though traveling is already difficult all on its own, it gets even more complicated when there are babies involved—and babies that have special health issues make things even messier. Because of Kunselman’s kindness, all of those problems had the volume turned down just a little bit, even if only for one day.
Special thanks to Jason for his selflessness and congratulations to Kelsey and her daughter!
Watch the video below.
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