Blind, deaf man struggles on plane when a 15-year-old walks over and shocks all the passengers.
Clara and her mother, Jane, were on their way home from Boston to Los Angeles when their original flight was canceled, and they were rebooked on a flight to Portland. While waiting to board, another passenger, Lynette Scribner, noticed a man and quickly realized that he, Tim Cook, was both deaf and blind and was traveling alone back to his home in Portland after visiting his sister.
Once on board, Tim was assigned a middle seat, and the man sitting next to him immediately switched seats to make Tim more comfortable. Meanwhile, the flight attendants, aware of Tim’s situation, made an announcement asking if anyone on the flight knew American Sign Language (ASL) and could help communicate with Tim. Clara, who had been studying ASL for a year, heard the announcement and didn’t hesitate to help. She went over to Tim and began signing into his hand, spending time with him throughout the flight.
Tim was eager to chat, asking Clara many questions, which she patiently answered by sign spelling into his hand. The connection between them was clear, and Tim was overjoyed to have someone to talk to. Everyone around them, including the flight attendants and Lynette, was deeply moved by Clara’s kindness. Lynette later shared the story on Facebook, where it quickly went viral, with countless comments praising Clara and Alaska Airlines for their compassion.
After the flight, Clara reflected on the experience, telling her mother that she believed it was meant to be that their original flight was canceled so she could be there to help Tim. As for Tim, he said it was the best trip he had ever taken, thanks to Clara and the kindness of everyone who made him feel cared for and less alone.
