United Airlines Flights’ Team Helps Boy With autism
The mother, Lori Gabriel of Cypress, Texas, later told that the kid removed his seat belt just before takeoff and wanted to sit on the floor. “It was impossible to restrain him. He was fighting both me and his father. It took both of us to try to get him back to his chair and get his seat belt back on. He started kicking, screaming and hitting,” Gabriel said. “That’s when a flight attendant came over and told us the flight couldn’t take off until he’s seated”, she said. “I told her the boy has autism, we’re trying, give us a minute.”
The flight attendant walked away, while Gabriel was still trying to keep the boy on his seat. She came back with two other flight attendants who asked the mother how they could be of help.
“Then they sprang into action,” Gabriel revealed. First, they let Braysen sit on her lap for takeoff while the father was holding him. Then, after the seat belt sign was turned off, his mother let the boy down because he was screaming and fighting her. So the crew let him sit on the floor, next to them. “When he’s overstimulated, the vibration makes him feel better,” Gabriel said. At one point, the boy inadvertently kicked a passenger sitting across from them, a United Airlines’ flight attendant who was not working during the flight. “She was just being nice and said it was OK if he kicks her feet,” Gabriel said.
Then, the boy went to first-class and started kicking a man’s seat, messing with it. “Braysen seemed happy there, so we didn’t want to move him,” the woman said. “So I told the man ‘I’m sorry,’ but he said he didn’t mind, he introduced himself to Braysen and gave him high fives. He said, ‘He can kick my chair, I don’t care.'”
“Everybody in first class was kind to him, asking his name, showing him pictures on their phones, letting him sit whenever he wanted,” Gabriel said. “The flight attendants kept asking if we needed anything, making sure everybody was taken care of.”
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Just before leaving, the off-duty flight attendant who was sitting across from them gave Gabriel a hug and a handwritten note in which she commended her for her strength. “You and your family are loved and supported,” reads the note. “Do not ever let anyone make you feel as though you are an inconvenience or a burden. He is a blessing,” the note goes on “God bless your patience, your love, your support, and your strength. Continue to be a superwoman.”
She posted a picture on the social website.
tweeted in response: “It sure sounds like Braysen and your family had a great flight. We are happy that our crew was able to make it an enjoyable experience. We are overjoyed to see that we have such loving and supportive passengers on board as well! We look forward to seeing Braysen again soon!”