Teen With Down Syndrome And Terminal Illness Becomes World's 1st Special Needs Flight Attendant

Jan 08, 2019 by apost team

If you are flying American Airlines in the near future, you just might get to meet an incredibly sweet flight attendant.

17-year-old Shantell “Princess” Pooser is the airline's newest flight attendant. The terminally ill girl with Down's Syndrome is currently fighting a host of inoperable airway defects. According to Shantell's mother, the official name of the condition is laryngomalacia, tracheomalacia, and tracheobronchial malacia.

Deanna Miller Berry said the illness makes it difficult for her daughter to breathe normally because it obstructs 87 percent of her airways.

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Because of the condition, Shantell must frequently travel between her home in South Carolina to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital in Ohio. Due to her travels, Shantell fell in love with the idea of being a flight attendant. When a pilot for American Airlines found out about Shantell's dream job, he set out to make her goals a reality. 

Shantell's first official gig on the job happened on her 17th birthday at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport near her home. Now Shantell gets the honor of delivering the safety instructions to passengers every time she steps on board an American Airlines flight.

The airline has gone above and beyond the call of duty by even providing Shantell with a uniform so that she looks official. Her new position gives her the distinction of being the airline’s first flight attendant with special needs as well as a terminal illness. 

The determined girl still has many other dreams to accomplish. Also on her bucket list are dancing on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" and using a hot air balloon to arrive at her upcoming prom.

Now you can check out Shantell's new job for yourself. After you watch this sweet girl in action on board her flight, be sure to spread this story to all of your friends and family so that everyone can root on Shantell in reaching all of her goals.