Southwest Flight Attendant Helps Make Dream Come True for Woman with Down Syndrome
Southwest flight attendant Vicki Heath met Tracy Sharp on a flight to Houston a few months ago. Sharp, a Sacramento, California, woman with Down syndrome, was flying home after visiting her family.
Sharp confided in Heath that her lifelong dream was to become a flight attendant.
While some might admire but ultimately brush off the comment, Heath decided to do something about it.
According to KVOR, Heath put the wheels in motion and started making some phone calls.
She talked to Southwest personnel to get the permission she needed to bring Sharp aboard a Southwest flight as an assistant flight attendant of sorts.
While the details of the kind act weren’t particularly complicated, getting the permission required was a bit of a challenge, especially considering security regulations.
But finally, Heath received the sign off she needed, and Sharp was welcomed aboard a flight from Sacramento to Seattle, Washington.
WATCH: Here’s the moment where Tracy met Vicki on her dream flight as a @SouthwestAir flight attendant https://t.co/ANF0g8xYxP pic.twitter.com/wkqZTEzCvP
— CBS Sacramento CBS13 (@CBSSacramento) September 1, 2018
Dressed in a red Southwest uniform, Sharp was able to greet passengers as they boarded the flight just like a real flight attendant.
She even got her own set of wings for her service and was able to assist Heath in many flight attendant responsibilities such as checking on passengers.
“We met on the airplane, and look at that smile, OK,” Heath told KOVR.
“Oh, you’re going to make me cry,” she said after being asked how she felt about making Sharp’s dream a reality. “I feel like I’m living my purpose driven life, and that’s huge.”
Both of Sharp’s parents were aboard the flight and got to see their daughter in action. Sharp even served them champagne for their anniversary that day.
.@SouthwestAir Flight 2202. Never have experienced a more heartwarming flight. Southwest flight attendant coordinated for my flight to decorate the whole plane for a young girl with down syndrome who had always wanted to be a stewardess. Good Luck Tracy! pic.twitter.com/kpdYex6Q04
— l i n d s e y (@lrorellana93) September 1, 2018
“I just can’t believe that she gets the opportunity to do something she’s wanted to do,” Tracy’s mother Linda Sharp told KOVR.
As the flight landed, all the passengers erupted in applause for Sharp and her impeccable service.
Southwest approved Heath’s kind gesture without any payback in mind. Heath is not required by the company to provide additional services, and simply did it out of the kindness of her heart.
Heath, thank you for your service on Southwest and your kindness towards customers. You have shown that just one small act of kindness can mean the world to someone.
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