I was having another one of those days…I seem to be having a lot of them lately and frankly it’s getting old. Passing through Las Vegas on the last round trip of a three day sequence, we were running behind due to a de-icing debacle in preparation for our first flight and a subsequent mechanical issue on the second. It was the last leg of the day and it seemed Murphy’s Law was in full force. Admittedly, I was ready to be home, feeling cranky, and my little pity party seemed justified. Then Chandler walked into the cockpit.
Chandler appeared to be about five years old and was dressed like a western Sheriff, badge and all. He wore a huge black cowboy hat and an intricate belt buckle not much smaller around than his waist. On his feet were extravagant boots like you might see on a country western star. His khaki shirt was decked out with an authentic looking Sheriff’s badge and arm patch and a real pair of Flight Attendant wings. I recognized the wings as real, but learned later that the Sheriff’s badge and arm patch were real as well. He had been deputized by the local Sheriff earlier in the day.Chandler was thin. As I lifted him into the Captain’s chair and slid him forward toward the control yoke, he seemed to weigh far less than he should. But his deep blue eyes, buzz cut blond hair and ear to ear smile masked why he was here receiving such special treatment. He was soft spoken and polite, but alive with excitement surrounded by the busyness of the cockpit. He was curious about everything. What’s this? What does that do? Why are there so many buttons? Most children are timid in the pilot’s seat, but Chandler was bravely interested in everything I had to share.
Chandler has a rare bone marrow disease and a brain malformation. Each day is a gift. The Parker County Sheriff's department in Texas found out about him and organized a bone marrow drive on his behalf. During this time they introduced him to Western Wishes, an organization that "strives to lift the spirits of children and young adults faced with adversity who live and love the western way of life." Earlier this year, Chandler was sent to Wyoming to spend time at the rodeo with the cast of 8 seconds. It was there that he became the ambassador for Western Wishes Texas and would eventually fly to Las Vegas for the National Finals Rodeo. That's how I came to share the cockpit with this spectacular young cowboy. Chandler is a true cowboy and draws on his cowboy strength to get through his treatments. "Cowboys are tough."
Chandler´s trip was sponsored by Western Wishes and he was accompanied by an American Airlines Flight Attendant who just happens to be his Godmother. I'm sure she was as honored to be a part of this trip as I was to have him in the cockpit. She was the one who had given him the first set of wings…probably her own. He definitely deserved more than a pair of plastic kiddie wings.
I looked at the Flight Attendant wings on Chandler’s shirt and decided he needed a set of pilot wings to match. Taking the wings off my uniform shirt and pinning them on his, I told him a story about my wings. They were important to me and I hoped they would be important to him as well.
“Chandler, when a pilot gets a job here, he goes out and flies with a teacher. The teacher sits right there in the seat you’re in and the new pilot sits in this one. They fly together for a few days and when the teacher thinks the new pilot is ready to go out and fly on his own, he takes a set of wings like these and pins them on the new pilot’s shirt. Just like this. These are the wings my teacher gave me. I've worn them for almost 14 years. They've been all over the place Chandler…to every city American Airlines flies to in Canada, Mexico and the United States.”
Chandler smiled even bigger than before and I suspect the wings will be as significant to him as they were to me. But that isn't the point. I didn't realize it until later, but he was the one giving me a gift. Actually, he gave me two. As he got off the jet back in Dallas, he stopped at the cockpit door to say good bye and handed me the picture and note I've posted below. I've received a lot of these over the years, but I’ll keep this one forever. The second gift was the realization that I've got it good. I’m happy and healthy and I have a great family and a wonderful job. I am thankful…and whatever insignificant trials I find myself navigating, clearly they are nothing compared to what this bright and cheerful young man is struggling through.
I am honored to have spent ten minutes with Chandler.
*If you are reading this post for the second time, you may have noticed some changes. I have included this little cowboy's real name and some detail about his condition after receiving permission to do so from his wonderful and supportive family.
