A kind stranger helped this girl during a travel disaster…and turns out he’s a famous NFL star
Delilah Cassidy likely had no idea that her routine airport layover would become a viral sensation. On May 30th, she was scheduled to fly on American Airlines after traveling in Europe. Before boarding her final flight, she was told that her carry-on was a little too big and she’d have to pay $50 extra. HOWEVER, the airline didn’t take cash, and none of Cassidy’s credit cards were working because the card companies didn’t know she was back in the U.S. She was told she’d have to go all the way back out to the main check-in line to sort things out…meaning she’d definitely miss her flight.
And that’s when a kind stranger came to her rescue. He asked the airline how much money they needed, and then promptly put his own card down. She found him again once on the flight to thank him and find a way to way him back, but he merely asked her to “pay it forward.”
And it turns out the kind stranger was none other than NFL player Jermaine Gresham.
Cassidy (who is, in an amazing coincidence, a sports journalist) gave the official play-by-play on Twitter.
WOW okay so the most amazing thing just happened to me and I can’t help but share it with the world. American Airlines instituted a new policy where you have to pay to take a carry-on onto the plane. Which is ridiculous but off topic.
— Delilah Cassidy ن (@Delilah_Cassidy) May 30, 2018
I consolidate my bags into one and they measure it and say it’s just a little too big. They proceed to charge me $50, except they only take credit card, no cash. Since I just got back from Europe all my cards are being declined as Chase doesn’t know I’m back.
— Delilah Cassidy ن (@Delilah_Cassidy) May 30, 2018
They tell me that I’m going to have to miss the flight and head back to the ticket counter to pay down there. I’m pleading, devastated after a long day of travel. Then, this man walks up and says, “How much is it?” They tell him $50 and he says “I got it.”
— Delilah Cassidy ن (@Delilah_Cassidy) May 30, 2018
I’m astonished and tell him it’s fine not to worry and he hands the lady his card as the American Airlines employees stand in silence shocked by this man’s generosity. They swipe the card and he tells me to have a great flight and hop on board.
— Delilah Cassidy ن (@Delilah_Cassidy) May 30, 2018
I’m crying as I write this and as I board the flight. This man was an angel. I stop him as he’s sitting in first class and try to give him my money but he just shook me off and told me to pay it forward.
— Delilah Cassidy ن (@Delilah_Cassidy) May 30, 2018
My heart is so happy. There are good people in this world. Be that person for someone because I know after this I sure will be.
— Delilah Cassidy ن (@Delilah_Cassidy) May 30, 2018
Update: It was Jermaine Gresham. pic.twitter.com/aJ0bXoNm8Q
— Delilah Cassidy ن (@Delilah_Cassidy) May 30, 2018
Gresham, who’s 29, currently plays for the Arizona Cardinals. He probably had no idea that his kind deed would go viral (which makes it all the sweeter).
The world can seem like a bleak place sometimes, and this is the perfect reminder that acts of kindness are happening all around us (as well as just how big a difference a little empathy can make).
