On a flight from New York to Los Angeles with my 14-month-old son, Shawn, I was overwhelmed. He wouldn’t stop crying, and I could feel the passengers’ judgmental stares. Desperate and exhausted, a man named David offered to help. Reluctantly, I let him hold Shawn, and to my relief, he calmed down. I finally relaxed for a moment.

Then, I saw David tipping an energy drink toward Shawn’s mouth. Panicked, I demanded my baby back. David refused, laughing and claiming it would help Shawn burp. Furious and scared, I yelled for him to return my son.

A flight attendant, Susan, intervened, ordering David to hand Shawn back. After a tense exchange, Susan offered to move us to first class, where we could finally have peace. I was grateful beyond words.

The rest of the flight was calm, and I reflected on the terrifying moment, knowing I should have trusted my instincts. Susan’s kindness reminded me that even in stressful times, empathy can make all the difference.

When we landed, I felt relief knowing Shawn and I were safe and together.