Flight attendant notices baby crying in cabin and quickly breastfeeds her after learning of mom's struggle
Those who work in service fields are called to reach out and help customers and others. Being mindful of others' needs is one of the top skills required in their portfolio. The extent to which they offer support stems from their thoughtfulness and kind nature. According to PEOPLE, Patrisha Organo, a flight attendant with Philippine Airlines, went above and beyond to assist a distressed passenger. The woman shared in a post on Facebook how she experienced a unique moment breastfeeding a baby as part of Organo’s efforts to help the mother. Recognizing the passenger’s urgent need, Organo didn’t hesitate to go the extra mile.
The woman explained that she was particularly keen to fly that day as she had been promoted to Cabin Crew Evaluator. She wrote, “I thought that this flight was going to be so special as this is a big step in my flying career,” Organo recalled. However, within moments, she heard an infant crying—“a cry that makes you want to do anything to help,” she remarked. The flight attendant quickly intervened and spoke to the mother to understand the issue. As a fellow mom of a 9-month-old, the flight attendant could empathize with both the mom and the baby, per Yahoo News. “You know the difference between a cry of hunger, a cry of sleepiness, or a cry of something else,” she noted.
“I approached the mother and asked if everything was okay. I tried to tell her to feed her hungry child. Teary-eyed, she told me she had run out of formula milk,” the post read. With several passengers staring at the wailing infant, Organo knew she had to act quickly. She recounted trying to figure out how to help the child and make arrangements for them. “I felt a pinch in my heart. There’s no formula milk onboard. I thought to myself, there’s only one thing I could offer, and that’s my own milk. And so I offered,” she said. After speaking with a supervisor and the mom, Organo breastfed the baby.
“The baby started rooting; she was so hungry. I saw the relief in her mother’s eyes,” she pointed out. The attendant breastfed the baby until she fell asleep, and the mother was overwhelmed with relief and gratitude. The encounter reminded Organo of her journey with breastfeeding and caring for an infant. She recalled how difficult it could be and the struggles she faced with breastfeeding initially. “In my early days of breastfeeding, I really wanted to give up, but because of the strong support of my husband, I kept going,” she remarked.
Organo described her breastfeeding experience as “a storm of emotion,” which required her husband’s encouragement and support. After overcoming the challenging part, the mother had enough supplies for her baby and more. Her struggle helped her empathize with the passenger and enabled her to assist in the unexpected way that she did. She added that she shared the post to “normalize breastfeeding” and inspire others to go above and beyond, just as she did.