A mum from Co Down has praised a staff member at a Belfast airport for helping to keep her two autistic children settled amid frustrating flight delays.
Faye Cameron, her husband Philip, and their children Elsie (9) and Tom (7) were setting off on a holiday together to Edinburgh after two years of delays due to the pandemic.
It would be the Banbridge family's first trip on a plane together, with "a lot of thought and planning" going into organising the trip.
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However, the excitement soon turned to frustration when the family arrived to Belfast City Airport on September 19 to find out their 10am flight was delayed. The parents did their best to keep the youngsters occupied to pass the time.
"This was their first holiday out of the country, due to various difficulties with their autism its not as easy to just jump on a plane and go. A lot of thought and planning has to go into our holidays, as any parent of autistic kids will know," mum Faye told Belfast Live.
"With no idea how they would react to flying we booked one of the shortest flights possible just in case. So all went well at the airport initially, until the first delay.
"As you can imagine its difficult for most young kids, we had counted down 45 mins, 30 mins, 15 mins then had to start all over again. It was so frustrating for them."
Each time they walked around the airport to pass the time, a staff member in the shop named Shirley talked to the family. The kids were happy to see 'the lady with the pink hair' each time they looped the departure lounge.
Shirely took matters into her own hands to keep the children occupied, by creating a treasure hunt on the back of some till roll.
"The kids just loved it," Faye added. "It asked them questions like 'how many restaurants are there? How many sinks in the ladies bathroom?' and more."
Faye said it was refreshing to see Shirley's friendly and upbeat personality in contrast to some more unsavory comments they received from other travellers.
She said: "The second delay was announced and my youngest just couldn't cope, he lashed out in frustration shouting and kicking his legs. A lady nearby said 'no kicking!' I said 'excuse me?' and she repeated her self.
"I assured her that he is far enough away and will not kick her, and she responded 'he shouldn't be kicking anyway.' I had a million responses in my head but none were polite so I just kept quiet and tried to reassure my son.
"Then the announcement came that the flight was cancelled, surprisingly my youngest was okay with this, but Elsie was so upset. It was very difficult to stay positive, but we did for the kids."
After their flight was cancelled, the family returned home, before travelling to the airport later that night to catch the 7pm flight. When they arrived at departures, the kids began searching for Shirley right away, with the worker leaving the two children a present.
Faye said the staff worker's random act shows the importance of treating others with kindness whenever you can.
"When we came back for the rescheduled flight later that night, the kids looked for Shirley immediately, when we asked for her, a colleague said shes gone, but she left you something," she added.
"I couldn't believe how kind and thoughtful she had been, I was trying not to cry but I was so emotional, such a lovely surprise for us. It seems she paid with her own money too as there was a receipt to show its paid for.
"Between the delays, the cancellation, all the upset of the day and then the lady complaining. It was just amazing to know there's good people out there.
"It just shows, you never know how your actions will affect people, the first lady maybe didn't realise how hurtful her comments were, but Shirley will just never know how her gesture picked us all up from a miserable day.
"I just wish more people could be like her, look for opportunities to show kindness, you just never know what a difference it could make. And if you have nothing helpful or constructive to say, just keep quiet."
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