upworthy

Heroes

Heroes

A scared passenger was shaking, so this flight attendant stopped everything to hold her hand

"His tone was so kind and soothing."

Courtesy of Molly Simonson Lee
Flight attendant sits on floor to comfort passenger

It may just a slight understatement to ay that not everyone enjoys flying. The level of non-enjoyment can range from mild discomfort to full blown Aerophobia, which is defined as an extreme fear of flying. While flying is the quickest way to get to far away destinations, for some people being that far off the ground is terrifying and they'd rather take their chances on the ground.

A passenger flying from Charlotte-Douglas International Airport in North Carolina to JFK International Airport in New York confronted that fear while flying with Delta.

The woman, who is currently still unidentified, expressed that she was nervous to fly according to Molly Simonson Lee, a passenger seated behind the woman who witnessed the encounter. Tight spaces don't make for much privacy, but in this case, the world is better for knowing this took place.

According to Lee, who posted about the exchange on Facebook, the Delta flight attendant, Floyd Dean-Shannon, took his time to give the nervous traveler his undivided attention.


Delta; flight attendant; anxiety; fear; flying; airports; airplanes; kindness Being on an airplane is unpleasant at best, but can be a nightmare for people with aerophobia Photo by John McArthur on Unsplash

Lee told Upworthy the unidentified passenger, "was very nervous and even before the plane took off, she was visibly shaken by each sound."

Approximately 25 million people in the United States have Aerophobia according to the Clevland Clinic and most of them probably wish Dean-Shannon was on their flights. "He took notice and began explaining what each [sound] was, with the warmest, calmest tone," Lee said. That wasn't even the most amazingly sweet part of the story.

While the explanation of noises helped, Lee said about halfway through the flight the passenger was fighting back tears, which prompted Dean-Shannon to sit on the floor and hold the frightened passenger's hand. He comforted her for the rest of the flight while sitting on the floor. "His tone was so kind and soothing," according to Lee.

Dean-Shannon's kindness didn't stop there. Lee explained, "the woman next to me was celebrating a birthday and he sang to her and made her a 'cake' with all of the goodies he could round up."

I'm not sure what Delta pays him but he needs a raise immediately and it seems the people of the interwebs agree.

Commenter, Miranda Anderson, tagged Delta Airlines and wrote, "I hope you see this! These are the types of people that deserve raises and make your company worth flying with. This is what pits [sic] you above the others so show these employees this is what you want and what you need."

Lee started a GoFundMe in Shannon-Dean's name, in order to show some love for his above-and-beyond kindness. Sadly, as of this wrriting the fundraiser did not reach its full goal; but the outpouring of love and support has been extremely powerful.

"I love this. This is what society is lacking. Empathy and kindness towards people in time[s] of need" wrote Diane Lawrence.

While Mary Beth Acker Ford, said, "I was on a flight with him today. He exudes joy and is intentional about making a connection with each person!"

This level of engagement with passengers is not a common experience but clearly people are happy to see this type of connection between humans. Flying anywhere can be stressful for any amount of reasons. From leaving the house late and having to participate in an involuntary 5k to catch your flight, to making your way through the devil's backyard, also known as Atlanta International Airport...just for them to change your gate 10 minutes before boarding.

So having a flight attendant like Dean-Shannon is just the breath of fresh air people need. "The way he's looking at her...letting her know she's safe!!! This is just one of the many reasons I will always fly Delta Air Lines," Liz Martin wrote in the comments.

"It was obvious he is just a good, kind soul who shares that generously with everyone he encounters. Such kindness is rare and a true gift when encountered," Lee remarked. That level of kindness is rare indeed and we sure are happy someone thought to capture it.

This article originally appeared two years ago. It has been updated.

From Your Site Articles
flying
HeroesJoy
Parenting

Mister Rogers gently shares 'the biggest mistake' parents can make in poignant resurfaced clip

"That's why when you're a parent, you have a new chance to grow."

en.m.wikipedia.org

Fred Rogers in 1988.

Fred Rogers, as many know, had a sort of magic about him. The way in which he soothed both children and their parents through his empathy, patience, and kindness was unique and rare. For him, imagination knew no bounds, and it was important to let kids truly explore the wondrous snippet of time that you get to be a kid.

In a clip making the rounds on social media, Rogers is being interviewed on Oprah Winfrey's show in 1985. Winfrey asks him, "What do you think the biggest mistake parents make in raising their children?" Rogers breathes in and answers, "Not to remember their own childhood."

He continues, "I think the best thing we can do is to remember what it was like for us and know what our children are going through."

Winfrey reminds him, "But you know it's so hard once you get to be a parent, you always say 'I will never do this' when your mother is doing it to you or your father is doing it to you. And then you get to our age and you forget what it was like to be this size. You really do forget."

Rogers patiently responds, "But those children can help reinvoke what it was like. And that's why when you're a parent, you have a new chance to grow."

This really resonates in the comment sections of the many places this clip is posted. On Positive Life Secrets' Instagram post, one person writes, "I love this man so much. He was a gift to children everywhere."

Mr. Rogers, Fred Rogers, PBS, parenting, kids Mister Rogers exits the room. Giphy GIF by MOODMAN

Another truly takes what he says to heart: "Breaking the cycle of verbal abuse, manipulation, and arguing! I don’t want my kids to go through what I went through. So, I just have to remember what it felt like."

This Instagrammer adds some input: "A lot of parents miss the mark when they think respect doesn’t go both ways. When they shame their child versus building confidence and having understanding and helping them navigate properly. Truth is a lot of people are not right as adults and they are raising people."

This running theme of not forgetting one's childhood is something Rogers discussed often. In a YouTube clip from the early 80s, Rogers sits down with children and their parents and digs deep into where there might be a disconnect. The kids describe their moms and dads, while the parents (at times frustrated) share their vulnerable difficulties setting limits, getting angry, or truly seeing their child's point of view.

- Mr Rogers sits down with families and listens. www.youtube.com

Rogers, as he so often did, listens patiently to the entire family dynamic and reiterates the importance of empathy. He says to the parents, "Often we wonder if we're alone. And I think it's programs like this that help people realize that they're not alone. That there are a lot of people in the world who are struggling with such things as, 'What do I do when my kid just will not listen to something that I know is right for them?'"

A commenter shares, "I really needed this. As a 90’s baby now raising her own kids, it was nice to know Mr. Rogers is still able to teach me. I need to get back to this type of lifestyle and living. Thank you for posting this. It really helped me in a time of need."

From Your Site Articles
mr. rogers
ParentingFamilyJoyHeroes
Joy

Alleged school shooting thwarted after a brave high schooler left a tip on Sandy Hook hotline

This won't solve everything, but it's a step in the right direction.

via Sandy Hook Promise and Google Maps.

A hallway at Menlo-Atherton High School and the Sandy Hook Promise app.

There is a lingering feeling in America that we will never fix the school shooting problem because politicians have failed to take effective action to make sure our schools are safe from mentally disturbed people with firearms. If there’s any good news, it’s that the 2024-2025 year saw a 23% decline in school shootings over the previous year. There were 254 total school shootings in 2024-25 and nearly 330 shooting incidents in the last two years. There was also some positive news on September 10, 2025, in Northern California when a student reported a potential shooter who planned an attack in the Sequoia Union High School District out of Redwood City.

The student became aware of the potential attack after seeing a social media post and reported it to Sandy Hook Promise's Say Something Anonymous Reporting System. "What we know is that a student saw a concerning post on a friend's Instagram feed and reported it to our anonymous reporting system manned at our crisis center down in Miami," Nicole Hockley, cofounder of Sandy Hook Promise, and mother of Dylan, who was one of 20 children killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting, said according to ABC7 News. The suspect was a former student at Menlo-Atherton High School who posted photos of ammunition, firearms, and a mapped-out plan to attack the school.


After the tip was reported, Sandy Hook Promise notified the police, and Menlo-Atherton High School was quickly secured. The police detained the former student who allegedly planned the attack, removed weapons from their home, and placed them on a psychiatric hold.

"Because of the courageous actions of one student—a single voice speaking up—this community was spared unimaginable heartbreak," Hockley said. "Every act of violence we prevent, whether it's a planned school shooting, youth suicide, or bullying, is our Promise in action, creating a safer future for all children.

"Sometimes we receive hundreds of tips about a potential threat. Other times, as we saw in California during this incident, it just takes one. At a time where many feel powerless against gun violence, this student's bravery proves that each of us has the ability to make a difference. Gun violence is not inevitable—it is preventable—and prevention begins when we recognize the signs and take action," Hockley continued.


To further protect our children from gun violence in schools, Sandy Hook Promise also advocates for two pieces of bipartisan legislation: the PLAN for School Safety Act and the STOP School Violence Act.

The PLAN Act will provide schools with localized essential safety planning resources by strengthening state-based expert centers, contributing to the nationwide effort to protect children from school shootings and violence. The STOP Act would make annual grants available to states, school districts, and tribal organizations to bring evidence-informed programs and strategies to schools.

There is no magic cure for school shootings. Still, the more tools we have to stop them before they occur, whether that’s tip lines, preventative education at schools, red flag laws, or gun control, we can hopefully reduce the number of tragedies that affect our children and communities by using any means necessary.

From Your Site Articles
school shootings
JoyHeroes
Joy

A man had a heart attack during a comedy show and the audience stepped in to save his life

"What a wonderful reminder of all the good in the world."

Photo Credit: Canva

Audience members perform CPR on a man at a comedy show.

Comedian Drew Lynch was on stage mid-set in Spokane, Washington, when he suddenly heard a commotion in the audience. In a video capturing the event, Lynch is seen observing a man in distress. He pauses and asks, "Is everything okay?" An audience member replies, "No!"

Lynch, realizing the severity of the situation, asks, "Is there a medic in the house?" Someone else in the audience frantically screams, "I'm calling 911 right now!" We hear a woman's voice over what sounds like chest compressions say, "CPR started." Another helpfully replies, "I can be your second." The first woman says, "No pulse," and the other confirms, "No pulse."

At this point, Lynch is visibly distraught. The first woman enthusiastically shares, "I think I found a pulse." Audience members begin to gather closer, and Lynch says into the mic, "Thanks, guys. Some room, guys."

A man says, "He's waking up," as we hear ambulance sirens in the near distance. The man continues, "Sir? Can you hear me?" The chyron on the clip says "Paramedics arrive," as a man's voice soothes, "I'm gonna take care of you, okay?"

Some time elapses as we now see a split screen of people with hats reading "SFD" (Spokane Fire Department) taking the man off on a stretcher, while Lynch watches from the stage. A woman says, "Good job, everybody," while the entire room applauds.

What happens next is absolutely beautiful. Still armed with the same microphone that he had just been telling jokes with, Lynch wipes tears from his eyes and asks, "Can I just take a second, guys? Cuz like, that was incredible, dude. Like I know we're here making jokes and doing a bunch of s--t about the town. But you guys all came together in a really cool way, dude." He begins to openly sob, while the audience claps for him. "You saved that guy's life, man," he says. The audience starts clapping louder, adding whistles.

Lynch takes a deep breath and continues, "I mean, that was crazy. You guys worked together so fast, I mean…" He pauses, while an audience member yells out, "Spokane does care!" Lynch adds, "That was nuts, guys. You guys should like…to just witness that, I mean. That was crazy." He then jokes, "I have literally the hardest job in the world now." This gets a big, much-needed laugh from the crowd. A woman hands him some napkins to wipe his tears, which he uses. "I'm dabbing my eyes, I'm like a widow at a funeral, like literally," he says.

Someone suggests he take five, but he remains. "Yeah, no, I mean…" Lynch says. He begins to cry again and can barely push the words out: "Can you guys give a hand to the people who saved that guy's life? That was crazy." Another big round of applause follows, this time with with a standing ovation.

comedy club, microphone, comedy, comedian A microphone on a stand in front of a brick wall at a comedy club. Photo by Simon H on Unsplash

On his Instagram page, Lynch wrote a lengthy message to his fans:

"At a show this past weekend in Spokane, something happened that I will never forget. In the middle of my set, a man in the audience collapsed from a heart attack. What happened next was one of the most powerful examples of community and human connection I’ve ever seen.

Without hesitation, people in the audience began taking turns performing CPR, clearing space for paramedics, and monitoring his vitals. He had no pulse for over 5 minutes. With the combined efforts of total strangers, and honestly, by what felt like a miracle that night, he was revived right there in the room.

The entire audience came together in that moment—no egos, no identities, no division—just one goal: saving a life.

The next day my funny friends @akeemthefunnyguy, @rachelafllejecomedy, and I visited Mr. Wende in the hospital to finish the show for him. Getting to laugh and share stories with his family for hours in the hospital was the reminder I needed of why comedy is so needed—especially in times when the world feels so torn apart.

HUGE thank you to the people of Spokane, the brave medical professionals, and the Wende family for bringing this man into my life and reminding me just how special community can be. #spokane."

@thedrewlynch

Just wanted to give an update from the shows last night. #spokane

The comment section was equally moved and supportive. The first response was from the man's (referred to as Mr. Wende) granddaughter. She writes, "It’s a hard watch, but the people who did the CPR saved his life. We are so grateful for the extra time with my grandpa and so grateful for everyone’s support and love!"

A healthcare worker in the comments adds, "As a health care worker I heard ‘I’m calling 911, no pulse, CPR started, I can be your second, sir can you hear me, I’m gonna take care of you.’ ♥ I love my people."

Another shares that, per Lynch's Instagram stories, Mr. Wende was a retired speech therapist.

Lovingly, this fan responds, "What a wonderful reminder of all the good in the world. And a testament to you, Drew, that this is who your audience is."

From Your Site Articles
drew lynch
JoyHeroes
Trending Stories