If you subscribe to my newsletter, then you know how much I adored my mother and father. Sadly, they’re both gone but there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think of them or thank God for giving me incredible parents. That’s why this video of United Airlines first officer Jerome Lawrence really got me … and everyone else who saw it.

Jerome begins his video walking through Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) outlining his surprise. “Alright, so today is a big day for me as I’m going to try and surprise mommy. I’m going to work the flight from Houston to Port of Spain. I’m hoping to surprise her. She doesn’t know that I’m coming. Problem is she might see me board but I’m hoping to avoid that. So listen, wish me luck.”

He then shows his mother from afar, sitting at the gate and then later zooms in on her in the gate area from the cockpit. In his Instagram caption, he credited the crew for helping keep it a secret. “Much love to the flight crew that made it possible, they stood in front of the door and blocked her view etc, captain made me make the announcement and fly the leg. That’s why I love it here at United… They encourage milestones like this.”

One of the crew members filmed Jerome as he made his pre-flight announcement while standing in front of the cockpit. His mom is in the second row of first class. Unfortunately, the crew didn’t get his mom’s initial reaction. He posted on Instagram, “I’m sorry I didn’t get her initial reaction but it was “wait that looks like Jerome?” ?. She said “Jerome don’t do that man, why you do that?” Watch the video below.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Jerome Lawrence (@welta_1)

That reminded me of all the times I used to surprise my dad at his senior home in Florida. I once visited him four times in a two-week period when he had to have heart surgery. At the bottom of this story, I will share some of my surprise videos.

While making the public address announcement, Jerome said his “knees were weak, throat was dry” but you couldn’t tell. He told the passengers, “My name is Jerome Lawrence and I will be flying you down there to Port of Spain. This is a special moment for me and I like to share with you guys. A lady in here, she’s in first class, is my mom. My first time flying her to Trinidad. And it’s my first time landing back in Trinidad after 17 years.”

He then says, “It’s a pleasure to have you all on board.” He goes into a little bit more detail why it’s so special. “I was born in Tobago.” He could tell his mom was getting emotional and he said, “It’s okay, Mommy. It’s alright. It’s alright.”

“It’s an honor to have you guys here with us on board. I can’t even begin to express how important it is to share this moment with you. It’s been a long road for us. My dad should have been here on this flight, but he decided to fly higher than all of us. He’s up there with the other angels watching all over us.”

He ends with: “Parents keep encouraging your children to be great and be whatever that is  they want to because without the support of my mother and my father, I wouldn’t be here flying you down to Port of Spain.”

As you can imagine, the internet just melted watching this and anyone who has lost a parent can relate. Even United Airlines commented. “This got us in our feels ? ?.” And they asked for Jerome’s permission to share on their social channels. They captioned their post, “Jerome is one of our heroes. Today, we met his. ?”

Other comments included:
raqs.hall: Best thing I’ve seen all day! So tender! Parents sacrifice so much for us and a mother’s love /prayers protects us everyday. Well done! ???????

Imperialempress: Omg u made me cry

Jenny Kirby Di Franco: Retired United flight attendant here, this made me cry

isa_bellalee: This is sooo nice. This is very us ‘We in d Hyatt’

Jerome said on his Instagram that it was “hands down the coolest thing I’ve done so far at United.”  It’s going to be difficult to top that and I’m sorry I wasn’t on the flight to help capture the moment from a passenger’s point of view.

I can really relate to Jerome, what he said and how he was feeling. Here are some videos of me surprising my dad.

YouTube video

YouTube video

YouTube video

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1 Comment On "'Best thing I've seen all day': United Airlines pilot surprises his mom on flight"
  1. Libra|

    Really enjoyed watching the United Family Ties. Have always enjoyed my past United Flights. Thank You

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