I am writing to share my deepest appreciation for a beautiful stranger who was travelling on the Virgin Australia flight from Launceston to Melbourne on Sunday 23rd august 10.15am.

I don’t know her name, but I am hoping that by sharing this message, she may somehow be identified and know just how much her kindness meant to my family.

She was wearing all black and had dark hair.

I was travelling with my autistic son, who was extremely overstimulated that day and experiencing a major meltdown. He was screaming and hysterical, and I was doing everything I could to comfort him. It was an incredibly difficult and overwhelming situation.

Most people around us were watching, staring and giving us uncomfortable looks. But this woman was different Instead of judging us or simply walking past she came over to us tried to help me comfort my son and spoke to me with such genuine kindness. She told me that she understood what I was going through that she has an autistic child/children and she’s been there and has experienced similar if not the same. She then went out of her way to help us get to the front of the line so that we could board first.

Her kindness didn’t stop there.

During the flight, my son continued to experience a major meltdowns that lasted the whole day really I was completely overwhelmed myself at breaking point and crying because nothing I did would help him and this beautiful stranger came over to check on us multiple times throughout the flight. She reassured me, comforted us and reminded me that everything was okay and that we were seen and she cared and was there to help.

She never made me feel embarrassed. She never made me feel like my son was a burden or that we were inconveniencing anyone.

She simply showed us compassion.

When we landed in Melbourne, she went above and beyond once again. My son was still extremely distressed and screaming hysterically, so she asked the other passengers to remain in their seats so that we could get off the plane first she wasn’t a worker a flight attendant but just a beautiful soul with compassion..

There was also a few other kind ladies and people that showed they cared that passed no judgement and told me I was doing a good job.

I cannot properly explain how much this meant to me.

That was one of the most overwhelming days of my life. As a mother travelling with an autistic child who is having a major meltdown, you already feel incredibly vulnerable. Having people stare or judge you can make an already heartbreaking situation feel so much worse.

But this woman chose kindness.

She didn’t know me. She didn’t know my son. She had absolutely no obligation to help us yet she did.. She saw a mother struggling and a little boy who was completely overwhelmed, and she chose to step in with compassion and understanding.

I will never forget that.

Sometimes a stranger can enter your life for only a few hours and leave an impact that lasts forever and this is what this beautiful lady has done for me, showed me that I wasn’t alone in such a vulnerable time for me.

You helped me through one of the hardest and most overwhelming days I have ever experienced. You reminded me that there are still incredibly kind and compassionate people in this world.

I will never forget you or what you did for us.

I hope this reaches you with all my gratitude from the bottom of my heart thank you for your kindness I will never forget how much you just being there, caring really helped us. So much love to you and I hope the world showers you with the kindness you showed me that day because you didn’t have to go out of your way but you did, again thank you!